A little more than a week ago, motorists on Interstate 70 in Belmont County were caught off guard by a sudden blast of winter weather.

On Feb. 8, after scattered snow showers had fallen across Ohio throughout the day, a band of heavy snow blown by strong winds caused “whiteout” conditions to occur at about 4:30 p.m. – just in time for the evening commute. The result was a bog mess – as many as 20 vehicles became involved in a pileup in the eastbound lanes of I-70 near St. Clairsville. At least one other accident temporarily closed the westbound lanes of the highway as well, just a couple of miles away.

Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported in any of the collisions that happened late that afternoon. People throughout the area reported slippery, dangerous conditions on roadways all around the region, including on U.S. 40 in downtown St. Clairsville and on more rural routes such as U.S. 250 near Colerain.

Traffic came to a standstill on many roadways. On I-70, cars and trucks were backed up for miles behind the skewed vehicles that had slid all over the highway. National Road in St. Clairsville looked like a long parking lot as people tried to make their way around the accidents on the interstate. Many people were unable to reach their destinations that evening, and others waited two hours or more to complete trips that normally take them a matter of minutes.

Obviously we can’t control the weather. While we can be aware of forecasters’ predictions, we never really know when a round of severe weather might impact our area. But we can be prepared for conditions that can reasonably be expected, according to the time of year.

Winter is far from over. Although the season has been fairly mild so far, conditions could easily take a turn for the worse any day. Drivers should be as prepared as possible to deal with whatever comes their way.

Remember to slow down when snow, ice or rain is falling, and keep an eye on the temperature. If a sudden drop is expected along with precipitation, consider putting off your trip until conditions improve. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has plenty of fuel. And carry emergency supplies, such as a blanket, flashlight, water, snacks, gloves, boots and an extra hat.