PennDOT, Turnpike crews pretreat roads as drivers urged to avoid travel: Restrictions in place Friday
ACTIONS. A WARM CHRISTMAS DAY IN STORE FOR US, AS TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABOUT TEN DEGREES ABOVE WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. TOMORROW, THOUGH, IS THE DAY WE’RE WATCHING. IT IS A SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY. WE’LL SEE RAIN SHOWERS AND ICY CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY NORTH AND EAST OF PITTSBURGH, AND WE’LL STAY MILD AS WE HEAD INTO THE FINAL WEEKEND OF THE YEAR. WITH RAIN RETURNING AS WE CLOSE OUT THE WEEKEND AS WELL. A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR COUNTIES NORTH AND EAST OF PITTSBURGH, INCLUDING THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS, AND NORTH OF 422, EXCEPT FOR BUTLER AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES. WE WILL SEE THIS UPGRADED AT SOME POINT TODAY IN ADVANCE OF OUR SYSTEM THAT GETS HERE TOMORROW. THE WIDESPREAD, HEAVIER RAIN THAT WE SAW THIS MORNING HAS EXITED. A COUPLE LIGHT SPRINKLES, THOUGH, ARE LEFT OVER ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. BUT THOSE WILL CLEAR OUT HERE MOMENTARILY. AND WE’RE MAINLY DRY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF CHRISTMAS DAY. WE’LL SEE SOME PEEKS OF SUNSHINE AS WE CLIMB THE 4842 TOMORROW ON OUR SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY, WITH RAIN SHOWERS AND A WINTRY MIX. SATURDAY WILL BE AT 40 SUNDAY. THEN WE’RE WATCHING OUR NEXT SYSTEM THAT BRINGS RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA. RAIN WILL START ABOUT MID MORNING AND THEN LAST THROUGH THE DAY, SO ONCE IT STARTS RAINING IN YOUR LOCATION, IT’S GOING TO RAIN FOR THE REST OF YOUR SUNDAY SO ROADS WILL BE WET. AND IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON SUNDAY, IT’S GOING TO BE RAINY. BUT IF YOU CAN AVOID OBVIOUSLY FRIDAY BECAUSE IT’S SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY AND SUNDAY, SATURDAY IS THE PICK FOR TRAVEL THIS WEEKEND. ON MONDAY, OUR TEMPERATURES WILL FALL THAT 48 AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT. RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE WITH US FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE, BUT THEN TRANSITION TO SNOWFLAKES AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AS OUR TEMPERATURES FALL. WE’RE NOT EXPECTING MUCH ACCUMULATION OUT OF THIS, THOUGH. AN INCH OR LESS ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. WHAT IT DOES IS USHER IN THE COLDER AIR. WE’RE IN THE 20S FOR HIGHS ON TUESDAY, 32 ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, 34 ON NEW YEAR’S DAY WITH TEMPERATURES AT THE START OF EACH DAY RIGHT AROUND 20 DEGREES. SO IT’S GOING TO BE COLD FOR FIRST NIGHT, BUT NO SNOW OR RAIN TO WORRY ABOUT. LET’S START FUTURECAST FOR YOU. TOMORROW MORNING WE’LL BE SEEING THE FIRST BATCHES OF SOME FREEZING RAIN, WHICH COULD IMPACT THE CITY AS WELL AS THIS STARTS. THE CITY THOUGH WILL WARM UP AND WILL QUICKLY TRANSITION TO RAIN FOR MOST OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, NORTH AND EAST OF ALLEGHENY COUNTIES, WHERE WE’LL SEE LIKELY FREEZING RAIN FOR A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR FRIDAY SOUTH OF THE CITY SHOULD BE ALL RAIN FOR THE EVENT. AGAIN, THAT FREEZING RAIN CONTINUES INTO FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE THINGS BEGIN TAPERING OFF. ONCE WE GET PAST SUNSET. SO WE’RE TALKING SEVERAL HOURS OF FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE THAT COULD LEAD TO SOME SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS NORTH AND EAST OF PITTSBURGH, A 10TH OF AN INCH IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE PROBLEMS ON ROADS. AS YOU GET TO A QUARTER TO A HALF AN INCH OF FREEZING RAIN THAT COULD BRING DOWN POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS. SO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR US NORTH AND EAST OF PITTSBURGH AND INTO THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS. SO IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRAVEL ON FRIDAY, IT’S BEST NOT TO. LOW CLOUDS FOR US THIS MORNING ON ACTION CAM. LEFTOVER FROM THE RAIN THAT PASSED THROUGH EARLIER 38 IS THE CURRENT TEMPERATURE AT PITTSBURGH. INTERNATIONAL WINDS ARE LIGHT AND THEY’LL BE LIGHT THROUGH THE DAY TODAY. AND LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE WE GET WILL HELP TO BUMP US BACK INTO THE UPPER 40S LATER ON TODAY. AGAIN, THAT’S TEN DEGREES ABOVE WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. FRIDAY AGAIN, THAT SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY. IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL FRIDAY, THE EARLIER THE BETTER. IF YOU CAN WAIT UNTIL SATUR
PennDOT, Turnpike crews pretreat roads as drivers urged to avoid travel: Restrictions in place Friday
Updated: 1:33 PM EST Dec 25, 2025
Vehicle restrictions are being put in place across Pennsylvania Friday morning ahead of an all-day storm.The storm is expected to bring freezing rain, sleet and ice to Western Pennsylvania all the way to the other side of the Keystone State. All drivers are advised to watch the forecast and avoid traveling if unnecessary. Those who must drive should do so cautiously. Crews for PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be pretreating roadways ahead of the storm. Restrictions for VehiclesTier 3 restrictions for Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. Interstate 81, south of I-83. All Pennsylvania interstates west of I-81 including: PA Turnpike I-76 PA Turnpike I-70 All western PA Turnpike extensions. Tier 3 restrictions beginning at 2 p.m. I-81, north of I-83. Route 33, entire length. U.S. 22 between I-78 to Route 33. All Pennsylvania interstates east of I-81 including: PA Turnpike I-76 All eastern PA Turnpike extensions. Tier 3 restrictions from Pennsylvania No commercial vehicles are permitted except loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices.School buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are also prohibited on affected roadways.Speed limits will be reduced to 45 mph, and commercial vehicles not affected by the restrictions must use the right lane.Advice while out on the roadways from PennDOTWhile avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, PennDOT offers this advice if motorists must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow: Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions. Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights. Stay in your lane and increase your following distance. Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient. Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required. Use your defroster and wipers. Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice. During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway. Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision. Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely. Always buckle up and never drive impaired. Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.
PITTSBURGH —
Vehicle restrictions are being put in place across Pennsylvania Friday morning ahead of an all-day storm.
The storm is expected to bring freezing rain, sleet and ice to Western Pennsylvania all the way to the other side of the Keystone State.
All drivers are advised to watch the forecast and avoid traveling if unnecessary. Those who must drive should do so cautiously.
Crews for PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be pretreating roadways ahead of the storm.
Restrictions for Vehicles
Tier 3 restrictions for Dec. 26 at 10 a.m.
Interstate 81, south of I-83. All Pennsylvania interstates west of I-81 including: PA Turnpike I-76 PA Turnpike I-70 All western PA Turnpike extensions.
Tier 3 restrictions beginning at 2 p.m.
I-81, north of I-83. Route 33, entire length. U.S. 22 between I-78 to Route 33. All Pennsylvania interstates east of I-81 including: PA Turnpike I-76 All eastern PA Turnpike extensions. Tier 3 restrictions from Pennsylvania
No commercial vehicles are permitted except loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices.
School buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are also prohibited on affected roadways.
Speed limits will be reduced to 45 mph, and commercial vehicles not affected by the restrictions must use the right lane.
Advice while out on the roadways from PennDOT
While avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, PennDOT offers this advice if motorists must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow:
Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions. Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights. Stay in your lane and increase your following distance. Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient. Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required. Use your defroster and wipers. Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice. During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway. Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision. Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely. Always buckle up and never drive impaired. Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.