Investigation of Lake Effect Snow Impacts on Interstate 94 Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Rydberg, K., Walker, C., Nardi, K.. (2025). Investigation of Lake Effect Snow Impacts on Interstate 94 Multi-Vehicle Crashes. , doi:https://doi.org/10.5065/hd50-ka31
| Title | Investigation of Lake Effect Snow Impacts on Interstate 94 Multi-Vehicle Crashes |
|---|---|
| Genre | Manuscript |
| Author(s) | Kara Rydberg, Curtis Walker, Kyle Nardi |
| Abstract | Winter hazards can have a large impact on road conditions and vehicle crashes. Multiple-vehicle crashes, or "pileups," are more likely to occur in poor road conditions. Heavy snowfall, such as Lake Effect Snow (LES), can severely limit visibility, making it difficult for drivers to see other vehicles and hazards ahead. The accumulation of snow and ice can result in vehicles slipping and braking failure. Several studies have investigated the impact of weather conditions on pileups, but few have differentiated between LES and synoptic snow crashes. We seek to fill this gap and ask: How does lake effect snow affect traffic conditions and contribute to multi-vehicle crashes? For this study, we looked at the 18 December 2023 Interstate 94 multi-vehicle crash that occurred in Kalamazoo county in southwestern Michigan. We find that a transition from rain to intense snow, indicated by surface weather observations and the radar reflectivity values at the crash site, created slick and hazardous conditions that greatly limited visibility. These factors, along with sub-freezing pavement temperatures at the crash location, rapidly changed road conditions quicker than drivers could react, resulting in the 30+ car pileup. These methodologies can be applied to other LES and broader weather-related, multi-vehicle crashes. Future work may leverage these insights to develop more tailored motorist advisories and/or speed reduction recommendations. |
| Publication Title | |
| Publication Date | Aug 1, 2025 |
| Publisher's Version of Record | https://doi.org/10.5065/hd50-ka31 |
| OpenSky Citable URL | https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7q244qx |
| OpenSky Listing | View on OpenSky |
| RAL Affiliations | WSAP |