Drivers across three South Jersey counties woke up to an urgent warning Saturday as a dangerous snow squall barreled through the region. The National Weather Service issued an alert at 7:18 a.m. for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, effective until 7:45 a.m., cautioning residents about rapidly deteriorating conditions that could turn roadways into skating rinks within minutes.
The squall formed along a line stretching from near New Morgan to Chester, racing southeast at 25 mph and targeting some of the area’s busiest travel corridors. Major highways including Interstates 95, 295 and 495, along with the New Jersey Turnpike, fell directly in the path of the fast-moving weather system that forecasters warned would create sudden whiteout conditions.
Flash freeze threatens major roadways
The National Weather Service didn’t mince words about the danger facing motorists. Wet roadways were expected to freeze almost instantly as the squall passed overhead, creating black ice on roads, bridges and overpasses. The combination of intense snow bursts, gusty winds exceeding 35 mph and visibility dropping to less than a quarter mile set the stage for potentially catastrophic driving conditions.
Communities across the warned region prepared for impact. The list of affected areas reads like a South Jersey road map: Wilmington, Vineland, Millville, West Chester, Glassboro, Pennsville, Coatesville, Westtown, Clayton, Carneys Point, Downingtown, Swarthmore, Elsmere, Kennett Square, Penns Grove, Buena, Parkesburg, Woodstown and Alloway all faced the same threat of travel turning difficult and dangerous within minutes.
Understanding the snow squall threat
Snow squalls represent one of winter’s most deceptive dangers. Unlike prolonged snowstorms that give drivers hours of warning through steady deterioration, squalls strike fast and furious. These intense weather events typically last less than an hour but pack enough punch to transform clear highways into accident scenes before motorists realize what hit them…