Pittsburgh area braces for bitter cold after getting hit with snow over the weekend
Winter weather is hitting western Pennsylvania hard, with snow, below-freezing temperatures and bitter wind chills resulting in advisories and warnings across the Pittsburgh area on Monday.
The National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory that goes into effect Monday night and will be in place through Tuesday morning. The NWS says there's potential for wind chills to be -10 to -15 degrees in the higher elevations of Westmoreland, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion and Indiana counties.
It's the second blast of cold for the Pittsburgh area, and the bitter temperatures are going to be sticking around all week. Pittsburghers KDKA-TV spoke to are ready for spring.
"At least we got the sunshine today and it melted off a little bit of this snow, but I would like some more warm weather, for sure," said David Balzamn from Pittsburgh.
Tips for braving the cold
There are a few things to keep in mind over the next few days to make sure you, your pets and your home survive the bitter blast.
Make sure you change your furnace filter to ensure it runs efficiently. Keep your thermostat at the same temperature around the clock. If you heat with propane, make sure your tank is above 20%.
Open your vents in the basement to protect your pipes from freezing.
If you're going to use a space heater, make sure the area around it is clean and always plug them directly into the wall. Don't use an extension cord and never use them while sleeping.
And remember: if it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pets, so bring them inside. Experts say time outside should be limited, so keep the walks to 10 to 15 minutes.
Snow and gusty wind makes for tricky morning commute
A winter weather advisory that expired at 7 a.m. for counties like Allegheny and Armstrong was expected to bring additional snow accumulation up to an inch, which comes on top of any snow that already arrived over the weekend. Wind gusts were also forecasted to get as high as 35 mph.
In the eastern parts of Fayette and Westmoreland counties, a blizzard warning was in place through 3 p.m. The blizzard warning was also issued for Somerset County, northeastern West Virginia and western Maryland. The National Weather Service says the areas under the blizzard warning could see an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation and wind gusts as high as 50 mph.
Nearly 100 school districts and organizations throughout the area have implemented delays or closings and have adjusted plans for the day due to the wintry weather.
The fire chief in East Brady Borough, Clarion County said he's been monitoring the Allegheny River for ice jams that can quickly raise the river level and cause extensive damage.
