Heavy snow blankets parts of the Pittsburgh area and western Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Heavy snowfall is starting to come down and blanket parts of the Pittsburgh area.
All of western Pennsylvania, as well as parts of Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio are under either a Winter Weather Advisory or a Winter Storm warning.
The advisories and warnings are expected to remain in place through 10 a.m. on Saturday.
How much snow is expected to fall in the Pittsburgh area?
As of midday Friday, most snow reports from the morning wave of steady snow have ranged from 1 to 3 inches across most of the Pittsburgh metro area and western Pennsylvania. The steady snow has transitioned into more snow showers and snow squall activity.
Flurries and snow showers will continue through Friday evening into Friday night and Saturday morning, with the highest coverage and best chance of accumulation north of Pittsburgh toward I-80.
Through Saturday, an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow may occur north of Pittsburgh toward I-80 and localized areas of 3 to 6 inches are possible north of I-80 with the lake-enhanced snow showers and snow bands. The highest peaks of the Laurel Highlands and ridges could also receive an additional 3-plus inches or more as upslope flow enhances snowfall rates through the early to mid-afternoon timeframe.
A larger system will arrive in the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachia by Sunday night into Monday, with another opportunity for significant accumulating snow. KDKA's First Alert meteorologists are watching the system, as its track will be very important to determining where the heaviest snow will occur.
Who is responsible for plowing my roads?
Allegheny County has an interactive website that allows you to see who is responsible for cleaning your roads or streets.
The site shows color-coded roads based on whether they are maintained by PennDOT, Allegheny County, local municipalities, or if they are privately maintained.
PennDOT also provides an online tracker via 511PA that allows you to track where the state's snow plows and salt trucks are.
How do meteorologists and road crews prepare for winter weather?
With this winter weather, road crews and meteorologists have their hands full. From keeping you safe to making roadways passable, it's a complex task.
Before any snow flies or salt is dropped, the KDKA First Alert Weather Team is crunching data to get the most accurate forecast. The more data the better as the slightest change can make a world of difference.
"So much time and very subtle shifts can change the game," First Alert Meteorologist Trey Fulbright said while preparing his forecast.
For planning snow totals, meteorologists combs through several different models to get the most accurate picture. While everyone would also love to get those numbers sooner, having a better picture is better than being an alarmist.
"A lot of times going into these storms, we have uncertainty because the storm system either hasn't formed yet or it's way out over the ocean," Fulbright said.
Road crews start to make their plans as everyone finds out more about what a storm will bring. Depending on what precipitation falls, crews can decide on what treatments will be needed.
"We'll definitely have the crews out evaluating whether roads need treated, plowed or what the best course of action is to make sure we get folks to where they need to get to safely," PennDOT District 10 community relations coordinator Tina Gibbs said.
As the weekend continues, both state and local crews plan to get their ducks in a row, but once the snow comes to the area, they ask drivers for patience.
"Their routes can sometimes take four hours or longer, so they need some time to get back to the start of that route to start reclearing, retreating," Gibbs said.
A reminder from PennDOT, if you are out driving and see a plow, stay about 6 car lengths behind to let them do their job.
Allegheny County Public Works deploys 30 salt trucks
The Public Works Department for the county says they will be providing around-the-clock coverage until the snow stops and until all the roads the county is responsible for maintaining are clear.
The department says it has just over 10,000 tons of salt in stock.
Drivers are encouraged to slow down, add extra time for their trips, and be sure to leave space between their vehicles and the ones in front of them, and additionally asked to give salt trucks and plows on the road plenty of room.
City of Pittsburgh deploys 60 salt trucks overnight
Mayor Ed Gainey said Thursday that the city's Public Works crews are ready and will be working around the clock to keep the roads safe for everyone.
"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," Gainey said. "Let's all stay safe, plan ahead, and look out for one another during this winter weather."
HOV lanes closed on the Parkway North
PennDOT announced that the HOV lanes on I-279 north of the city of Pittsburgh will not be open for the morning rush hour and are expected to remain closed for the rest of the day. The lanes will reopen on Saturday to help with traffic leaving the city for the primetime Steelers-Bengals game.
What schools are delayed or closed because of the weather?
Dozens of school districts and organizations implemented delays before the winter weather hit. A full list of impacted schools and organizations can be found here.
