With more than a few inches of snow already on the ground early Friday, forecasters with the National Weather Service in Moon expect 2 to 4 inches more during the day in the Pittsburgh region.
A winter weather advisory remained in effect early Friday in much of the area and extends through 10 a.m. Saturday.
The weather service said snow showers are likely to continue Friday evening, with total accumulation of about 4 to 6 inches by Saturday. The chance of snow late Friday into Saturday is about 60%. Lows will drop to 12 degrees.
Saturday morning will begin partly sunny in Pittsburgh, then become more cloudy, with a 50% chance of more snow showers. Little or no accumulation is expected. Highs will near 20 degrees.
High temperatures are expected to linger in the upper 20s Friday, with northerly winds blowing about 5 to 10 mph, the weather service said.
Snow plows hit the roads in the City of Pittsburgh on Thursday night and local officials said they are expected to stay out until the snow stops falling.
The weather affected schools in the region, with many of them taking preemptive measures Thursday evening to either delay or call off Friday. For a complete list of school closings and delays, visit WTAE’s list.
On Thursday, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey took to social media to ask all non-essential city employees to work from home Friday.
CommUnity, as Pittsburgh is under a Winter Weather Advisory tomorrow, I have asked all non-essential City employees to work from home and I strongly encourage all residents who CAN work from home, to make arrangements to do so. pic.twitter.com/1GnJJXen1T
— Mayor Ed Gainey (@MayorEdGainey) January 18, 2024
Pittsburgh Department of Public Works crews began pre-treating roads at 10 p.m. Thursday, said Olga George, a Gainey spokeswoman. Crews started clearing streets as snow began to fall between 3 and 4 a.m., prioritizing roads leading to hospitals, schools and emergency facilities.
By mid-morning Friday, the city had reported clearing primary roads and some secondary roads.
All secondary roads should be cleared by mid-afternoon or evening, George said. Officials expect all roads to be cleared within 18 hours after the last snowfall.
Six vehicles that had been out for maintenance have been returned to service to tackle the snow Friday, bolstering the city’s depleted fleet of snow plows.
About 20 vehicles of the city’s 75-strong snow-clearing fleet were sidelined, George said Thursday.
Because of the winter weather, state officials dropped the speed limit Friday morning to 45 mph on Route 22 westbound from Route 376 to the West Virginia state line and eastbound from the state line to Route 980 McDonald Midway. Commercial vehicles are restricted to the right lane only.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reduced, then lifted, the speed limit and put in place right-lane-only commercial vehicle restrictions on several roadways in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties.
Speed limits were reduced to 45 mph on Routes 79, 279, 376, and 579, U.S. 22 and 30, and Route 28 in Allegheny County, as well as Route 376 in Beaver County and Routes 79 and 376 in Lawrence County.
All speeds were restored to their usual posted limits around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
For a more in-depth lineup of road restrictions, look at PennDOT’s road update.
PennDOT officials, anticipating the snowfall, closed HOV lanes on Interstates 279 and 579 in Ross and Pittsburgh late Thursday.
