I've lived in the area for most of my life and this is out of the norm. The turnpike is the "safe" route.

It's not that common. There hasn't even been snow around Christmas in that area for a few years.

At least four people are dead. And highway road salt is only effective above 15°, where local temperatures have been subzero and windchill as low as -30°. Have some empathy, idiot.