Accumulating snow ends in Western Pa.; PennDOT lifts speed restrictions

PennDOT reduced speed limits on several roads in the Pittsburgh region and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as snow made roads slick and treacherous Tuesday morning.

PennDOT lifted speed limit restrictions shortly before 11 a.m. Speed limits had been reduced to 45 mph on all interstates and several other routes during the morning commute because of the winter storm.

Crews are treating roadways in the area and will continue until they are clear, PennDOT said.

Around 10:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said that heavy, accumulating snow had about ended across the region. Light snow is expected to linger through the afternoon, with additional accumulation of less than an inch in most locations, but a bit higher in the ridges.

The weather service measured 4 inches at its offices in Moon. Across the Pittsburgh area, snow totals ranged from 4 to 6 inches.

A winter weather advisory was scheduled to be in effect until 1 p.m.

Heavy accumulating snow has pretty much ended across the region, with light snow expected to linger through the afternoon. Additional accumulation should be less than an inch across most locations, perhaps a bit higher in the ridges. pic.twitter.com/9gLLCfyLvf

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) February 9, 2021

In Pittsburgh, garbage and recycling collection was canceled Tuesday because of the weather. Workers will try to collect all delayed refuse on Wednesday, but residents should be prepared for their normal pickup to be delayed a day.

In Plum, the borough said Republic Services shut down operations because of the weather. Services will resume Wednesday, with the remainder of Tuesday customers. Residents should still have trash out on their normal day, the borough said.

Some school districts, including Deer Lakes, Highlands and Plum, were switching to all-remote instruction for the day. A listing of delays, closures and cancellations is available from the Tribune-Review’s news partner, WPXI-TV.

Commuters can view road conditions through PennDOT’s traffic camera network. Pittsburgh had also activated its Plow Tracker.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jared Rackley said that “quite a few accidents” had been reported across the region Tuesday morning.

“The roads are slick from what we can tell,” he said. “The roads were already very cold once it started falling.”

PennDOT had full crews out all night plus rentals — totaling more than 70 trucks in Allegheny County, spokesman Steve Cowan said. Roads were pre-treated in advance of the storm.

“Currently, we are seeing the interstates in better shape than they were earlier,” Cowan said around 6:30 a.m. “They are starting to break up and we are seeing stretches of slushy conditions. However, when a significant band of snow comes through it can cover the roadway quickly. Secondary roadways are still snow covered at this time.”

Light snow may continue into the afternoon.

Another system is expected to bring more snow Wednesday afternoon, with another 1-2 inches accumulating into early Thursday morning, Rackley said. More snow is expected Thursday into Friday as well.