The first big snowfall of the season hit Western Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning, coating the ground and roadways.
Speed limits have been temporarily reduced on several roadways in Southwestern Pennsylvania as a result. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced the limits just after 5 a.m. “due to the severity of the winter storm.”
PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, but for those who need to head out, speeds are now reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:
• Interstate 70 in Washington and Westmoreland counties
• Interstate 79 in Greene and Washington counties
Commercial vehicles like that are not affected by speed restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane, PennDOT said.
“Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, and they will not completely free of ice and snow,” the announcement said. “PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.”
According to TribLive news partner WTAE, snow totals will be somewhat uniform with 2 inches to 4 inches accumulation. The majority of the snow is set to fall between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Higher amounts are possible near and north of I-80.
There is a brief period of freezing rain or sleet expected that might reduce some of the snow totals near the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border.
The snow is causing many schools to issue delays and closings. For a full list, click here.
For motorists traveling, PennDOT advises to be careful when encountering plow trucks. Motorists should allow plenty of space for their own safety and the safety of the plow operators. If the vehicle is plowing, motorists shouldn’t attempt to pass it.
Conditions on specific roads can be found by visiting www.511PA.com, which provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and more.
511PA can also be accessed via smartphone app for iPhone and Android, by calling 5-1-1 or by following its social media account on X.
PennDOT advised people to pack a basic emergency kit for their vehicles. Items can include:
non-perishable food
water
blanket
small shovel
warm clothes
special items like baby food, pet supplies or medications
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com.