Winter weather advisory remains in effect, more snow expected through Friday
Western Pennsylvania woke up Thursday to an official overnight snowfall total of ¾ of an inch, though it’s likely some areas received more, according to the National Weather Service.
“We’re actually looking at a very fine gradient from the northwest to the southeast right now,” said David Shallenberger, lead meteorologist for NWS Pittsburgh.
This means the NWS station in Moon likely received a bit less snow than communities to its southeast — including Pittsburgh.
More snow is expected through Friday.
The region remains under a winter weather advisory, which warns of an additional 2 to 4 inches of snow and a light glaze of ice accumulating throughout Thursday and into Friday morning.
The snow is expected to briefly stop late Thursday morning, then start again in the mid-afternoon.
5:25 AM THURSDAY: City of Pittsburgh streets are super snowy. Rt 19 is slushy through Mt Lebanon, Bethel Park, Upper St Clair. This particular ramp to 79 (see below) in Canonsburg is also slick & still snow covered. @WPXITraffic @WPXI #pawx pic.twitter.com/a0SCIPYVg0
— Alyssa Raymond (@AlyssaRaymond) February 18, 2021
Commercial vehicle restrictions are in effect for some of the area’s major highways but PennDOT lifted restrictions on speed limits just before 8 a.m.
Oversized loads, empty tractor-trailers, RVS and buses without alternative traction devices are prohibited on the Pennsylvania Turnpike east of Cranberry, and Route 66 in Westmoreland County.
These restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 7 a.m. Friday.
Allegheny County deployed 27 salt trucks. Officials urged drivers to plan extra time for their commute, drive slow and exercise caution.
Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reported more than 150 schools and businesses were delayed or closed Thursday because of the weather.
Snow coated many Pittsburgh-area roads early Thursday, according to WPXI.
More than twice as much snow has fallen in the Pittsburgh region this winter compared to a normal year.
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