Pittsburgh and surrounding areas to see accumulating snow during Friday morning commute
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh started the new year with 1.1 inches of snow accumulating. It's likely just the appetizer for more snow to come, as we're watching for two rounds of wintry weather to hit the region in the coming days.
Friday is a First Alert Day as snow begins early in the morning and has an impact on the morning commute. A widespread 1 to 3 inches is possible with additional accumulations in the ridges and north of Route 422.
On Monday, it looks like the area will be hit by the top of a winter storm system. The exact track and placement of the heavy snow are still up in the air.
How much snow will the Pittsburgh area get on Friday?
The first round of snow arrives Friday morning. Snow showers will begin before sunrise, and continue through the morning commute. This looks to be the most impactful time of this disturbance, but snow showers will continue on and off through the afternoon and evening.
Cold air will be in place for the weekend. Expect temperatures to remain in the 20s at best. Any breeze will take the wind chills well down into the teens. Bundle up if you are heading to Acrisure Stadium to see the Steelers game.
More snow expected on Monday
Most of Sunday looks cold, but fairly quiet. Sunday night, on the other hand, we see our next winter weather system approach. Right now, the exact track of this system still does not look concrete, but we will be on the top side of a winter storm system.
Typically, that means snow. If you track winter weather in this area, however, you may have noticed a past trend where warm air tries to lift into the region. Right now, that is a possibility, but most of the region is looking like snow.
Pittsburgh area braces for snow
Area shops are getting ready for a last-minute rush to get supplies. People are stocking up on salt and making sure their shovels and snowblowers are squared away.
Amy Johnson at Brilhart Ace Hardware said the biggest selling item is ice melt. Given the last few winters have been a bust when it comes to snow, there's a bunch of it available, as well as ice scrapers and snow shovels.
Jim Komarinski of JKR Prolift fixes snowblowers. He says the main reason they have problems is bad gasoline, so he recommends putting in some fresh fuel. And make sure you have ethanol-free fuel or an ethanol inhibitor in with the gas, and check the unit's scraper and shoes.
Crews ready to treat roads
In Allegheny County, officials say they'll have 30 salt trucks with plows out and about round the clock with a little over 10,500 tons of salt.
The city of Pittsburgh said it will be deploying 60 trucks overnight and it's preparing "for a more significant snow event" for Sunday and Monday.
"Our Public Works crews are ready and working around the clock to keep our roads safe for everyone," Mayor Ed Gainey said in a press release. "We ask residents to do their part by giving our crews the space they need to work and avoiding parking on the streets when possible. Let's all stay safe, plan ahead, and look out for one another during this winter weather."
PennDOT, meanwhile, is reminding drivers to slow down, pay attention and use caution, especially during snow squalls or low-visibility conditions. Snow squalls can hit with little to no warning, quickly covering roads and possibly causing whiteout conditions. The National Weather Service issues snow squall warnings, and if you get one, PennDOT says you should delay travel or get off the road at the next opportunity.
