Winter storm pounds Pittsburgh region, officials ask residents to refrain from travel

As heavy snow continues to fall across southwest Pennsylvania, transportation officials slapped restrictions on some area highways, including reduced speed limits, and asked residents to stay at home if possible.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission enacted restrictions that began at 1 p.m. on several portions of the toll road, including a ban on tractors without trailers, RVs and motor coaches, among others. PennDOT reduced the speed limit on I-70 and I-79 to 45 miles per hour as road crews cope with snow accumulating faster than crews can clear it.

“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 by Thursday morning.

In Westmoreland County, public works Director Greg McCloskey said road crews are scheduled to work 12-hour shifts to clear and treat the 52 miles of county-maintained roads.

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.

County dispatchers reported a five-vehicle crash along the turnpike near Milepost 81 in Mt. Pleasant Township between the New Stanton and Donegal interchange that closed the eastbound lanes about 2:20 p.m. One lane reopened to traffic at 3:30 p.m., turnpike officials reported.

No injuries were reported, according to dispatchers.

Mid-afternoon traffic was tied up on Route 30 near Jeannette. A westbound truck jackknifed and became disabled at about 2 p.m. and was cleared by 3:30 p.m., according to PennDOT.

At 4:30 p.m., state police at Kiski issued a warning asking motorists to stay away from a section of Route 981 at Loyalhanna Dam Road in Loyalhanna Township due to multiple accidents and stranded vehicles in the area.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Pat Herald said the worst of the storm likely will be in the afternoon.

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.