A burst of winter weather created dangerous driving conditions across New Hampshire this week, prompting a surge of crashes and spinouts on roads statewide.
According to New Hampshire State Police, troopers responded to 154 incidents involving crashes or vehicles sliding off the road between 3 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities said 60 of those incidents occurred overnight and during the early morning commute on Wednesday.
Snow began falling around midday Tuesday and intensified at times during the afternoon. The storm slowed traffic during the evening commute and left many roads slushy or icy by the following morning.
State officials responded by issuing an advisory speed limit of 45 miles per hour on major highways as conditions worsened. That advisory remained in effect into Wednesday morning while crews continued monitoring road safety.
Drivers encountered particularly heavy slowdowns along Interstate 93 near Salem during the morning commute. In other areas, vehicles slid off roadways or became stuck along shoulders and medians as drivers navigated slick pavement.
Storm Tracker crews reported seeing multiple vehicles off the road early Wednesday. Overnight precipitation created a mix of snow, rain, and freezing conditions that left patches of ice across parts of the state.
In several communities, school districts delayed opening as a precaution while crews worked to improve road conditions.
One crash involved a truck that ended up in a ditch along Route 101 during the morning commute, illustrating the hazards drivers faced during the storm.
By late Wednesday morning, conditions had improved significantly in many areas. Most major highways returned to normal travel speeds as crews cleared remaining slush and temperatures rose slightly.
Even so, officials reminded drivers to remain cautious during late winter storms, when changing temperatures and mixed precipitation can quickly create unpredictable road conditions.
