Winter storm could bring up to 9 inches of snow; PennDOT, Turnpike Commission enact restrictions

Ahead of the major snow storm expected to dump as much as 9 inches across the region today, PennDOT is advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission enacted restrictions that begin at 1 p.m. on several portions of the toll road, as well as other highways that include I-80 and I-95.

“We have been preparing for winter since the last one ended, and we’re calling on the public to be our partners in safe travel,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “Please, avoid traveling and if you must travel, be sure to check travel conditions and give plow operators plenty of space so they can do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Meteorologists said Pittsburgh-area residents should prepare for up to 9 inches of snow and on Tuesday afternoon upgraded the forecast for the region from a winter storm watch to a winter storm warning.

“The reason for upgrading it from a watch to a warning is we have a little bit higher confidence in the snow that’s going to fall,” said NWS meteorologist Michael Brown.

It looks like the region will receive 6-9 inches of snow from 7 a.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday, but it’s hard to say for sure, according to Brown.

Travel could be difficult, the NWS reported.

Here is a look at when you should see accumulating snow start and end. There remains high confidence that the heaviest snowfall will occur this late afternoon through tonight, before tapering off Thursday morning.

Visit https://t.co/cxojC578hx for additional information. pic.twitter.com/AnEOHkB3JG

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) December 16, 2020

Speed restrictions and vehicle bans will be fluid throughout the storm. Beginning at 1 p.m., vehicles not allowed on affected roads include tractors without trailers, RVs and motor coaches, among others.

Tighter restrictions could begin at 4 p.m. and could include a 45 mph speed limit on affected roads.

NWS Meteorologist Pat Herald said the worst of the storm is likely to hit Wednesday afternoon.

“Morning rush hour will probably be OK,” Pat Herald said. “Afternoon is a different story. We expect it to be snowing pretty heavy then.”

Westmoreland County is gearing up for the predicted snowstorm.

Public Works Director Greg McCloskey said road crews are scheduled to work 12-hour shifts starting Wednesday morning to clear and treat the 52 miles of county-maintained roads.

Major county-owned roads include Greensburg-Mt. Pleasant Road in Hempfield, Harrison City-Export Road in Penn Township, Clay Pike in North Huntingdon and Clay Pike-Snake Hill, which runs from Mt. Pleasant to Donegal.

Crews will also clear roads in county parks and industrial parks.

“We’re ready to go,” McCloskey said.

He said the latest estimates call for areas south and east of Greensburg to receive about 8 inches of snow, with the northern and western portion of the county slated to see about 5 to 6 inches.

Public Safety Director Roland Mertz said additional 911 dispatchers will be on duty to handle what could be an increased number of emergency calls related to the storm.

Fine tuning on the snow amounts in line with new data. Slight shift westward of heavier snow, added 3 more counties to the warning. Everything else on track. Heaviest snow expected after 3 or 4pm through the evening hours. Snow will begin to taper off after midnight. Stay safe! pic.twitter.com/KBvNx0e56O

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) December 16, 2020

The city of Pittsburgh plans to have 75 trucks on the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daylight shift Wednesday, and extend crews through the afternoon shift from 2-10 p.m. Crews will also be working overnight into Thursday morning.

Workers will begin treating streets with blue tinted magnesium chloride salt Wednesday morning and will continue treating and plowing throughout the storm.

Already, people are clamoring to get their winter storm supplies in order, local retailers said.

“It’s been crazy,” said Emma Klein, co-owner of the Wexford Ace Hardware store. “People have been buying everything. Luckily our shelves are stocked and we’re fortunate that our warehouse is too.”

Klein has owned the hardware store along Route 19 with her parents for seven years. She said the first winter storm brings shoppers out in droves to buy ice scrapers, shovels and bags of salt.

“It’s funny that people look for different things in a shovel,” she said. “We have ones that are back-friendly and we have the ones that the Penguins ice crew uses. People really seem to like that one.”

In Etna, Winschel Hardware store owner John Winschel expects a crowd to start lining up later today.

Pet-friendly salt and shovels are the top sellers at the Butler Street store, where customers have been trickling in throughout the morning.

“Once it actually starts coming down, they all start coming in,” he said.

Herald said snow will taper off in the evening Wednesday and temperatures will drop from just around freezing into the 20s overnight.

“It won’t melt right away, given that amount of snow,” he said.

Temperatures are expected to hover in the mid-30s throughout the week.

Looking into the weekend, temperatures could climb into the 40s on Saturday, with partly sunny skies which will melt any remaining snow.