Region under winter storm warning with forecast of several inches of snow
The region is under a winter weather warning today for a storm that is expected to dump several inches of snow across southwestern Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh issued the warning for Greene, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties Sunday morning after the winter storm moving across the middle of the country appeared to be tracking farther north.
The warning went into effect Sunday night and is expected to continue until 7 p.m. today, as the heaviest snow began falling shortly after midnight and was forecast to continue until tonight in most places or Tuesday morning in the ridges.
The storm is forecast to bring six to 11 inches of snow depending on the location, with the higher elevations in Fayette County and areas south of Interstate 70 expected to receive the most accumulation, according to the weather service.
In response, the state Department of Transportation implemented restrictions on several area interstates beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday. Locally, the restrictions are in effect on Interstate 79 from the West Virginia state line north to Cranberry, and on I-70 from the state line to New Stanton. The Pennsylvania Turnpike also announced restrictions on the entirety of the Mon-Fayette Expressway and the Southern Beltway.
The restrictions mainly affect commercial vehicles and do not permit tractors to travel without trailers or to travel with unloaded trailers. Passenger vehicles are not permitted to tow trailers, and recreational vehicles, motorcoaches, school buses, commercial buses and motorcycles are not allowed on the interstates when the restrictions are in effect.
“On roadways where vehicles are not restricted, commercial vehicle drivers in particular are encouraged to exercise caution in high winds,” PennDOT and Turnpike officials said in a joint statement Sunday. “Drivers should ensure their loads are secure, reduce speeds, increase following distance, and use flashers if necessary.”
Other interstates in Pennsylvania and portions of the Turnpike will also be under restrictions. It’s not known when the restrictions would be lifted.
The weather service said Sunday that it could extend the winter storm warning to other counties in the region, including Allegheny, if the storm continues to track north.