Reports: Massive winter storm spurs ice-jam flooding and travel-snarling snow, ice in eastern US
As of 3:30 a.m. EST Saturday, the reports below are no longer being updated. For a recap of the storm, click here.
<hr>
Ice, snow and heavy rain are walloping the northeastern United States as a multi-faceted winter storm impacts the region.
On the warmer side of the storm, ice jams and flooding advisories are in affect in areas of Ohio, western Pennsylvania and New York due to rising temperatures and heavy rainfall. Small streams will continue to spill out of their banks, while ice jams will continue to develop on some area rivers.
On the storm's backside, an invasion of arctic air and wintry precipitation will lead to slippery and dangerous travel, airline delays, flight cancellations and the risk of power outages.
Even where roads are wet and slushy, plunging temperatures will lead to a rapid freeze-up in many areas into the weekend.
<hr>
1:30 a.m. EST Saturday:
Rain is transitioning to sleet across the central Appalachians. Watch for rapidly deteriorating roadway conditions and slick patches as temperatures continue to fall.
<hr>
12:00 a.m. EST Saturday:
Ice-jam flooding is triggering roadway flooding in eastern portions of New York state. Law enforcement also reports flooded parking lots in Montpelier, Vermont.
<hr>
10:54 p.m. EST Friday: A new ice jam is causing the water level on the Saco River near Conway, New Hampshire to rise toward flood stage. Areas along the river near Conway may experience flooding tonight as the water level rises.
<hr>
10:19 p.m. EST Friday: The National Guard has arrived at the scene of the major accident on I-40 in Tennessee to help clear the roadway. Many vehicles were involved in the crash, which occured on Friday afternoon, including several tractor trailers.
<hr>
10:11 p.m. EST Friday: Major highways around Nashville, Tennessee are closed due to accidents, including I-24 east, I-40 west and I-65 north. Many roads are also slick into Saturday due to snow and ice.
<hr>
8:50 p.m. EST Friday: Freezing rain is being reported around Pittsburgh and will glaze many untreated surfaces. Freezing rain is expected to change over to snow tonight and will accumulate several inches.
This radar image show the precipitation around southwestern Pennsylvania. Blue represents snow, pink represents ice and freezing rain, and green and yellow represents rain.
<hr>
8:18 p.m. EST Friday: Heavy rain has led to flooding around State College, Pennsylvania. Roads that experience flooding may freeze overnight as temperatures drop below freezing, leading to slippery travel.
<hr>
7:09 p.m. EST Friday: Over 4,000 flights have been delayed across the eastern United States today, including major airports along the Northeast’s I-95 corridor, according to FlightStats. Weather has contributed to these delays with airports across the region experiencing gusty winds, low clouds or snow.
<hr>
6:12 p.m. EST Friday: Many areas from Indianapolis to Nashville have received 3 to 6 inches of snow with snow still falling. People across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys should use caution when driving on Friday night due to snow-covered roads.
<hr>
5:49 p.m. EST Friday: Dozens of accidents have been reported around Clarkville, Tennessee, with road conditions expected to deteriorate further overnight.
<hr>
5:30 p.m. EST Friday: Arriving flights are delayed an average of 5 hours and 5 minutes at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Check delays by destination on the Federal Aviation Administration website.
<hr>
4:15 p.m. EST Friday: One person has been injured in a car accident near Bessemer, Pennsylvania, according to a 911 call center. Roads in the area were icy at the time of the accident.
<hr>
3:19 p.m. EST Friday: A multi-vehicle pileup, including multiple tractor-trailers, has caused a section of Interstate 40 westbound to be closed between Dickson and Jackson, Tennessee.
Troopers are working a multiple vehicle crash on I-40 at the 120 mm. (Photo/Tennessee Highway Patrol)
Accidents are also being reported on several bridges and overpasses around Nashville where roads are turning icy.
<hr>
3:06 p.m. EST Friday: Freezing rain has led to significant ice accumulation in southern Indiana. Much of the sleet and freezing rain has transitioned to snow. Motorists should use caution as even snow-free roads may still be dangerous to travel on.
<hr>
1:47 p.m. EST Friday: Areas of western Pennsylvania are experiencing flooding.
There is flooding with house rescues in Brady Township, Pennsylvania, a fireman in New Bethlehem told AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer.
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, is experiencing extreme flooding.
<hr>
1:04 p.m. EST: Numerous vehicle accidents have occurred in Kentucky, as ice and sleet cover the roads.
An accident on the Western Kentucky Parkway blocked the majority of lanes and stopped traffic. All lanes were later shut down as recovery crews work to move the tractor-trailer. Troopers anticipate the complete shut down will last for about 45 minutes.
<hr>
12:50 p.m. EST Friday: Ice jam reported in Westbrookville, New York. State RT 209 is closed in this area due to flooding and ice, according to NWS.
Ice jam reported on the Cohocton River near the I-86 bridge in Steuben County, New York. Water level is rising.
Numerous ice jams appear to have broken in New York, Pennsylvania and Canada, causing flooding along shorelines.
<hr>
12:22 p.m. EST Friday: Snow-covered roads in Memphis, Tennessee, and western areas of the state on Friday morning. NWS Nashville projects snow will affect the Nashville area and eastern parts of the state later on Friday afternoon.
<hr>
11:28 a.m. EST Friday: There have been 165 car crashes reported in Minnesota.
<hr>
10:59 a.m. EST Friday: More than 45,000 customers are without power in New Jersey due to weather-related damage.
The utility added that rain and condensation mixed with salt on the roadways and compromised equipment, according to NBC New York.
"We are working to restore power to customers as quickly and safely as possible," the utility said.
<hr>
9:43 a.m. EST Friday: Flood warning for ice jam on the Huron River in Franklin Flats in Milan, Ohio. The water is backing up and could impact RT 250. From 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday morning, the temperature at the Cleveland, Ohio, airport dropped 16 F, from 55 F to 39 F, according to NWS.
Multiple roads closed in Washington County, Ohio, due to flooding.
Ice jam near the marina on Rocky River. Flood advisory in effect.
<hr>
9:22 a.m. EST Friday: Flooding in western Pennsylvania have caused evacuations in places including Leadville and Coolspring.
There is flooding in residential areas of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania.
There have been numerous water rescues. A vehicle inundated in Worthington, Pennsylvania, led to a vehicle rescue. Two people were rescued in Jefferson County on RT 36 due to flooding.
Many roads and basements were reported to be flooded in Clarion County in Pennsylvania.
<hr>
9:08 a.m. EST Friday: Areas over western Pennsylvania have experienced heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours. Temperatures are expected to drop this afternoon by approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit in three hours, creating a flash freeze. A flash freeze is caused when water on the roads quickly turns to ice. The National Weather Service (NWS) has put out several warning to travelers in the area.
<hr>
7:32 a.m. EST Friday: Ice jams occurred on Seneca River in New York, resulting in flooding in Montezuma and Weedsport.
Ice jams have also occurred on the Cohocton River in New York, but no flooding has occurred yet. Sauquoit Creek in Witesboro, New York, is also experiencing ice jams, but no flooding has occurred yet.
RT 51 bridge was closed in Ilion, New York, due to ice jam on Steele Creek.
Ice from the Buffalo Creek broke free overnight in West Seneca, New York. The ice appeared on Borden Road.
<hr>
This is a developing story. Continue to check back for more updates.
