Alerts Issued As Major Winter Storm Closes In On Region
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A significant winter storm is expected to impact the region over the next couple of days.
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect from 8 p.m. Monday through 11 p.m. Tuesday for the following counties:
Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland
Meanwhile, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8 p.m. Monday through 8 a.m. Wednesday for the following counties:
Clarion, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Mercer, Venango and the ridges in Fayette and Westmoreland
According to KDKA-TV Meteorologist Ron Smiley, the City of Pittsburgh can expect to see 4 to 6 inches of snow over the next two days.
On Monday, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works issued a Level 2 Snow Alert, which went into effect at noon.
As a result, as many as 60 vehicles will be out from 10 p.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Tuesday to treat roads in the city. Then, a minimum of 80 trucks will be out from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Crews will be working 12-hour shifts throughout the storm.
Beginning at 10 p.m. Monday, restrictions will be in place on all interstates and expressways east of Interstate 99 and including Interstate 99:
- 45 mph speed limit
- Ban on tandem truck trailers, empty trailers, towed trailers, buses, recreational vehicles and motorcycles.
These restrictions will be in place on Interstates 70, 76, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 283, 176, 180, 476, 380 and all expressways not on the interstate system. The Turnpike will have the same restrictions beginning at 10 p.m.
Areas to the east could see up to a foot of snow by the time the storms moves out of the area.
A Winter Storm Warning is issued when 6 inches of snow is expected to fall in 12 hours, or 8 inches in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, a Winter Storm Advisory is issued when 3 inches or more is expected to fall in 12 hours.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Elliot Abrams says their official forecast right now is 3 to 6 inches, but if the storm shifts, that can change.
"If the storm is 50 miles closer to us on the track then we're going over a foot - it's going to be 12 to 18 inches of snow. Fifty miles farther away, we'd probably get 1 to 3 inches, but either way we're going to get some snow," says Abrams.
Abrams adds the heaviest snow is expected to fall late Monday night into Tuesday morning
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