Thousands of residents were left without power Monday after a windstorm tore through the region, snapping tree limbs and forcing the early closure of the Westmoreland County Courthouse.
The powerful system, which saw gusts peaking between 45 mph and 55 mph, left about 10,000 customers in the dark across Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for most of the region effective throughout the day, according to meteorologist Chris Leonardi.
While power restoration efforts continue, the reprieve from the weather is expected to be short-lived.
In Westmoreland County, concentrated service outages included clusters in the Delmont area and the Route 130 corridor through Greensburg and Hempfield. Monday’s outages were significant enough to shutter the county courthouse in downtown Greensburg by mid-afternoon, as crews were called out to manage more than 4,000 First Energy customers reporting a loss of service in the seven-county Western Pennsylvania area.
Regional outages for First Energy customers had dropped to about 1,150 by 9 p.m. — but they more than doubled again by 10 p.m., to more than 2,600. That included: 1,204 in Washington County, up from 326; 617 in Allegheny County, up from a handful; 554 in Armstrong County; and 109 in Westmoreland County.
In the Duquesne Light service area, nearly 6,000 customers faced similar conditions, with major concentrations of outages in McKeesport, Coraopolis and Hampton. The number of Duquesne customers remaining in the dark had fallen to about 500 by 9 p.m. but climbed back to about 1,200 an hour later. Nearly all the outages were in Allegheny County, including about 900 in the Pittsburgh area.
The NWS said winds were steadily decreasing trough the evening but gusts could occur as snow squalls moved through the region.
Leonardi said the region is now pivoting toward a winter system arriving for New Year’s Eve.
“We may get some wind gusts on New Year’s Eve as well, but not like what we saw Monday,” Leonardi said.
Instead, the primary concern shifts to accumulating snow.
Forecasters are monitoring a system that could bring several inches to the ridges and a dusting to a few inches in the Pittsburgh area by Wednesday evening.
The severity of the storm on Monday prompted PennDOT officials to reduce the speed limit to 45 mph and to restrict some classes of vehicles on major routes in the state’s northwestern corner.
The lowered speed limit is in effect on:
• Interstate 79 from the Interstate 80 interchange in Mercer County to the end of I-79 in Erie County;
• I-80 from the Ohio State line in Mercer County to Exit 42 (Emlenton) in Venango County;
• Interstate 86 from the Interstate 90 interchange to the New York state line in Erie County;
• I-90 from the Ohio state line to the New York state line in Erie County.
Commercial vehicles not affected by other restrictions must move to the right lane while traveling on the above roads.
Tier I vehicle restrictions are in place on all of I-86 and I-90 in Erie County. That means the following vehicles are prohibited on those roads: motorcycles; School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches; recreational vehicles/motor homes; passenger vehicles towing trailers; lightly loaded or unloaded enclosed cargo or box delivery trucks; tractors without trailers or that are towing unloaded or lightly loaded trailers.
“At this time, PennDOT doesn’t have any weather-related restrictions planned for Tuesday or Wednesday based on the current forecast,” PennDOT District 12 spokesperson Melissa Maczko said.
However, she urged drivers to remain cautious.
“Whatever moisture was left on the roads after Monday’s snow showers will likely freeze,” Maczko warned.
She also reminded motorists to be aware of remaining roadway obstructions, as branches weakened by Monday’s high winds could still fall during the Tuesday commute.
For the latest forecast, visit weather.gov.
