Winter weather advisory issued for Pittsburgh region, 2 to 4 inches of snow expected

Between 2 and 4 inches of snow is expected to fall in the Pittsburgh area Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.

A winter weather advisory for the region, including areas of eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia, runs from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday.

A winter storm warning will be in effect for the same time for the ridges of Westmoreland and Fayette counties, Mercer and Venango counties, and portions of the ridges in West Virginia, where 4 to 7 inches of snow is expected, meteorologist Shannon Hefferan said.

Forecast Update: Confidence has grown that snowfall totals will approach Warning/Advisory criteria for portions of our region tomorrow into Wednesday.

Make sure to stay weather aware as you travel across the Ohio River Valley during this time period. pic.twitter.com/SWnxDmwVvp

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) November 30, 2020

In the Pittsburgh area, Hefferan said rain is forecast to change to snow just after midnight into Tuesday.

While the morning rush hour may be spared, Hefferan said the heaviest snow is expected between 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“The evening rush looks like more of a snow event,” she said.

The snowfall is expected to end by Wednesday morning in the Pittsburgh area, while some lake-effect snow could linger into the afternoon to the north near the Interstate 80 corridor.

Dec. 1 marks the start of meteorological winter, which includes December, January and February. While light snow was measured twice in November, this is expected to be the first significant snowfall since 5 inches was measured on Feb. 7, Hefferan said.

“We haven’t had a good snowfall in quite a bit,” she said.

The forecast high temperature for Tuesday is 33 degrees, and 35 for Wednesday. It will be slightly warmer on Thursday and Friday, with high temperatures in the 40s.