Up to sixty vehicles were involved in a massive I-94 crash after Michigan was hit with heavy snowfall as the Midwest and Northeast struggles to recover from repeated snow storms.
The huge pile-up occurred around 10.30am on Friday after the interstate was engulfed in whiteout conditions.
Between 50 and 60 vehicles, including trucks, were involved in the crash and several people were injured but none life-threateningly. The Michigan Department of Transportation confirmed that the accident was likely caused by a sudden snow storm.
Meanwhile, more than 120,000 people are still without power in New Jersey two days after Storm Quinn whipped through the Northeast and dumped more than one foot of snow on the region.
Motorists were also warned to take extra care while driving through the Northeast after this morning’s freezing temperatures froze the rapidly melting snow, creating dangerous black ice on the streets.
Dozens of schools in New Jersey, where 14 inches of snow fell on Wednesday, remained closed for a third day today amid the icy weather and power outages.
Up to sixty vehicles were involved in a massive I-94 crash after Michigan was hit with heavy snowfall as the Midwest and Northeast struggles to recover from repeated snow storms
Photos reveal the damage sustained after car after car collided with each other during the pile up on Friday
A long line of cars, trucks and mobile homes lines up along one side of the interstate after the crash
Emergency personnel work the scene of a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 94 in southern Michigan, on Friday
The huge pile-up occurred around 10.30am on Friday after the interstate was engulfed in whiteout conditions
An aerial view shows the back up of vehicles on the westbound highway, where snowy weather forced cars to swerve to avoid crashing into each other
The Nor’easter even caused rare instances of thundersnow in some areas – including New York City and Philadelphia. Experts say the unusual phenomenon is caused by shallow layers of rising, unstable air.
Thousands of flights across the region had been cancelled even before the snow started falling Wednesday due to the dire weather forecasts, while buses were suspended across New Jersey.
Power outages hit their peak on Wednesday when roughly 320,000 homes and businesses were left in the dark, in New Jersey,NJ.com reported.
More than 120,000 people are still without power in New Jersey two days after Storm Quinn whipped through the Northeast and dumped more than one foot of snow on the region (An electrician from Newkirk Electric Associates labors on a power line on a home on Harding Avenue)
An electrician from Newkirk Electric Associates works to repair a power line on Harding Avenue following a snowstorm, Friday, in Pompton lakes, New Jersey
A ‘Jesus Loves Me’ sign hangs from the utility truck from Newkirk Electric Associates, who traveled from Michigan to help repair down power lines in New Jersey
A utility vehicle is seen near a road closure on Route 202, Friday, where a downed telephone pole, lines and trees continued to block the road following Wednesday’s snowstorm, in Oakland, New Jersey
A sign alerts motorists of shortage of gas at a station along Route 202 following a snowstorm, Friday, in Wayne, New Jersey, where a large portion of the northern New Jersey region continues to be without power
Dozens of schools in New Jersey, where 14 inches of snow fell on Wednesday, remained closed for a third day today amid the icy weather and power outages (a downed power line following a snowstorm, Friday in Oakland)
Darlene Breur, left, talks to an electrician from Newkirk Electric Associates, as he fixes a power line on her home, Friday, in Pompton lakes
Damage is seen on Doty Road following Wednesday’s snowstorm, Friday, in Oakland where tens of thousands are still without power
The treacherous conditions come less than a week after another storm knocked out power to more than two million in the region, some of whom are still waiting to have their service restored.
Since Storm Quinn, utilities companies have been working from the clock restore power to their customers. JCP&L hopes to restore power to more than 78,000 customers, Orange & Rockland Utilities is working to restore power to more than 13,000 homes and businesses, while Atlantic City Electric has more than 1,000 without power.
PSE&G’s customers may have to wait a little longer, but the utility company said its 30,000 customers would have their power restored by Saturday.
Meanwhile the National Weather Service has warned of another weather system heading towards the East Coast, although it’s not yet clear if it will hit.
Today, temperatures plunged to to early lows of the mid-20s, climbing to the higher-30s and low-40s this afternoon. But chilly, 30mph winds will make even the highs feel like the 20s.
However, forecasters say the East Coast is not likely to face more snow for the next few days as Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be sunny with highs in the 40s.
Things may take a turn of Sunday evening when a weather system is predicted to hit, which could bring further snowfall or rain. However, the weather service said, however, it ‘has no real confidence’ in any of the outcomes as of Friday morning.
If it does hit the East Coast, the nor’easter will be similar to Wednesday’s, dumping heavy snow across the region.
And there’s more bad news for anyone looking forward to the unofficial beginning of spring as the clocks go forward this weekend.
Experts say it’s unlikely that the mercury will rise above the 40s during the next week or so in New York state.
‘There’s no sign of spring coming anytime soon,’ Tom Kines, a meteorologist with Accuweather, told NewYorkUpState.
A family walks from their vehicle to a diner near a road closure on Route 202, where a downed telephone pole, lines and trees continued to block the road following Wednesday’s snowstorm, Friday in Oakland
A turkey runs along the snow-covered road on Friday at Presque Isle State Park, in Erie, Pennyslvania