Ohio snow causes 81-vehicle highway pileup

A blinding, late-afternoon snow squall caused an 81-vehicle pileup on a major highway in central Ohio on Tuesday. 

The crashes left vehicles crunched, tipped over and scattered at odd angles across lanes of Interstate 71.

Authorities said the mess blocked the highway for hours in Morrow County, roughly 40 miles northeast of Columbus.

The State Highway Patrol said the traffic involved included 11 commercial vehicles. 

A blinding snow squall caused an 81-vehicle pileup on a major highway in central Ohio on Tuesday

The crashes left cars crunched, tipped over and scattered at across lanes of I-71

The crashes left cars crunched, tipped over and scattered at across lanes of I-71

Authorities said the mess blocked the highway for hours in Morrow County, roughly 40 miles northeast of Columbus

Authorities said the mess blocked the highway for hours in Morrow County, roughly 40 miles northeast of Columbus

According to the News Journal, at least six tractor-trailer rigs were involved, with one ending up on its side.

State troopers didn’t immediately provide a full count of how many people were hurt, but said none of those injuries was considered life-threatening.

Weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles said a counter-clockwise flow on the outskirts of Winter Storm Skylar allowed the recently thawed Great Lakes to produce bursts of snow throughout areas downwind of the lakes, including Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland.

An emergency dispatcher received an initial call about two vehicles on the side of the road, but minutes later, more calls came in as cars began crashing into each other.

The State Highway Patrol said the traffic involved included 11 commercial vehicles

Cars were seen smashing into one another on the highway

The State Highway Patrol said the traffic involved included 11 commercial vehicles 

At least six or seven tractor-trailer rigs were involved, with one leaning ending up on its side

At least six or seven tractor-trailer rigs were involved, with one leaning ending up on its side

State troopers didn't immediately provide a full count of how many people were hurt, but said none of those injuries was considered life-threatening

State troopers didn’t immediately provide a full count of how many people were hurt, but said none of those injuries was considered life-threatening

Early Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service for Cleveland, Ohio, warned that snow was still falling across parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania

Early Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service for Cleveland, Ohio, warned that snow was still falling across parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania

The NWS expanded winter weather advisories for residents as well as winter storm warning that remain in effect until 8pm Wednesday night (above) 

The NWS expanded winter weather advisories for residents as well as winter storm warning that remain in effect until 8pm Wednesday night (above) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation said the southbound lanes of 71 opened around 6pm, while the northbound lanes reopened just after 10pm.

Early Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service for Cleveland, Ohio, warned that snow was still falling across parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. 

‘Some roads are still snow covered from snow last night. Use caution on untreated roads and during snow showers/squalls,’ the service wrote on Facebook. 

A short time later, the NWS in Cleveland reported that heavy snow ‘continues across far Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania’.

The NWS expanded winter weather advisories for residents as well as winter storm warning that remain in effect until 8pm Wednesday night. 

A cold front is also expected to swing through Ohio late Wednesday night into Thursday. 

The areas that are most likely to see snow on Thursday will be Cleveland, Akron and east into the Primary Snow Belt. 

For St Patrick’s Day, the forecast shows a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the low 40s on Saturday and into the 50s on Sunday. 

The Ohio Department of Transportation said the southbound lanes of 71 opened around 6pm, while the northbound lanes reopened just after 10pm

The Ohio Department of Transportation said the southbound lanes of 71 opened around 6pm, while the northbound lanes reopened just after 10pm

A cold front is also expected to swing through Ohio late Wednesday night into Thursday (above)

A cold front is also expected to swing through Ohio late Wednesday night into Thursday (above)

The areas that are most likely to see snow on Thursday will be Cleveland, Akron and east into the Primary Snow Belt

The areas that are most likely to see snow on Thursday will be Cleveland, Akron and east into the Primary Snow Belt

For St Patrick's Day, the forecast shows a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the low 40s on Saturday

For St Patrick’s Day, the forecast shows a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the low 40s on Saturday

And on Sunday temperatures will reach high 50s 

And on Sunday temperatures will reach high 50s 



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