Ice buildup on Pittsburgh rivers threatens barge operations
Ice accumulation on Pittsburgh’s rivers is causing significant challenges for barge operations
THIS IS PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR WITH BREAKING NEWS. ALL RIGHT. WE DO WANT TO GET RIGHT TO THIS BREAKING NEWS. WE ARE TRACKING SOMEONE RIGHT NOW. WALKING ON THE ICY ALLEGHENY RIVER. SKY 4. PITTSBURGH’S ONLY NEWS CHOPPER SHOWING US THIS LIVE. TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE HERE. THIS IS THE AREA OF THE FULTON BRIDGE NOW. UNCLEAR WHY THIS PERSON IS ON THE RIVER. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SOME POLICE PRESENCE IN THE AREA. OUR NEWSROOM IS ALSO, OF COURSE, REACHING OUT TO AUTHORITIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT LED TO THIS. WE WILL STAY ON TOP OF THIS SITUATION AND BRING YOU UPDATES AS WE LEARN THEM. AND THAT IS ONE OF SEVERAL MAJOR STORIES DEVELOPING OVER THE LAST 90 MINUTES BREAKING RIGHT NOW IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, A SHOOTING INVOLVING A POLICE, ALSO INVOLVING A DEADLY FIRE AS WELL. AND ALSO, WITH THE WEATHER CONTINUING TO BE A MAJOR STORY HERE AS WELL. BELOW FREEZING AT THIS HOUR OUT THERE MAKING TODAY AN IMPACT DAY. AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO CANNOT LEAVE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THE ROAD CONDITIONS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL RIGHT. A LOT GOING ON WITH THAT. WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE FOR PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR AT 4:00. I’M KELLY SASSO I’M ANDREW STOCKEY. LET’S GET RIGHT TO THE BREAKING NEWS. UP FIRST. ALL RIGHT. ARE INVESTIGATING AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN WILKINS TOWNSHIP. THIS IS HAPPENING AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN THE PENN CENTER COMPLEX. WE ARE TOLD RIGHT NOW THIS IS AT THE BRENTMOOR AT PENN CENTER. LET’S GET RIGHT OUT TO PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER MARCIE CIPRIANI, WHO WAS AT THE SCENE AND JUST TALKED WITH POLICE. SO, MARCY, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO LEARN AT THIS HOUR? WELL, ANDREW, I JUST SPOKE WITH ALLEGHENY COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS KEARNS HERE AT THE CHURCH HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND ALTHOUGH THIS SHOOTING, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAPPENED IN WILKINS TOWNSHIP, SUPERINTENDENT CURRAN SAYS THE THREE OFFICERS INVOLVED ARE CHURCHILL POLICE OFFICERS. HE SAYS ONE FILED A NOT FIRED A NONLETHAL ROUND. THE TWO OTHER OFFICERS THEN FIRED THEIR WEAPONS, STRIKING A MAN MULTIPLE TIMES. WE’RE TOLD THAT MAN IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. NOW, LET ME GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOU TO THE SCENE. THIS VIDEO YOU’RE LOOKING AT IS VIEWER VIDEO. THEY CAPTURED THIS VIDEO FROM INSIDE THE APARTMENT BUILDING. LOOKING OUT, YOU CAN SEE A LARGE POLICE PRESENCE. SUPERINTENDENT KEARNS TELLS US THIS STARTED AS AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN A RESIDENT THERE AND A MAINTENANCE WORKER AT THAT BUILDING. HE SAYS IT THEN WENT INTO THE GARAGE. WHEN POLICE WERE CALLED. THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR THE SUSPECT IN THIS CASE, ACCORDING TO SUPERINTENDENT KEARNS, THEY FOUND HIM IN A GARAGE. THAT’S WHEN KEARNS SAYS A POLICE OFFICER FIRED A NONLETHAL ROUND. HE SAYS THAT DIDN’T HAVE ANY IMPACT AT THAT POINT. HE SAYS THE SUSPECT THEN PICKED UP HIS WEAPON AND FIRED IT AT THE OFFICERS. CURTIN SAYS THERE IS BALLISTIC EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS HE FIRED AT LEAST ONE ROUND. THAT’S WHEN KEARNS SAYS THE TWO CHURCHILL POLICE OFFICERS FIRED BACK AGAIN, HITTING HIM MULTIPLE TIMES. NOW, WE TALKED TO THE WITNESS THAT CAPTURED THAT VIDEO AND SHE HEARD THOSE SOUNDS. THIS IS WHAT SHE TOLD US. WE HEARD A SERIES OF GUNSHOTS GO OFF. AND THEN I TOLD HIM, AND THEN WE LOOKED. AND THERE’S POLICE EVERYWHERE. SO HE WENT DOWN BECAUSE HE DIDN’T KNOW IF THE FIGHT THAT I HEARD EARLIER WAS RELATED. AGAIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT TELLS US THAT THE THREE OFFICERS WERE CHURCHILL POLICE OFFICERS. HE SAYS THEY ARE INVESTIGATING. THEY ARE NOW REVIEWING BODY CAM AND THEN THEY WILL TAKE THIS INVESTIGATION TO THE D.A. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THAT MAN SHOT IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN A LOCAL HOSPITAL. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM CHURCHILL MARCIE CIPRIANI PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. OKAY, MARCY, THANKS SO MUCH. WE WANT TO TURN NOW TO MORE BREAKING NEWS. THIS FROM WEST DEER TOWNSHIP. EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARE CONFIRMING ONE PERSON DIED IN THIS FIRE. IT STARTED AT 11:00 THIS MORNING ON TRUMP ROAD. NOW, WE DON’T KNOW YET THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO WAS KILLED, BUT WE SPOKE WITH SOME NEIGHBORS WHO TELL US THEY WERE VERY SAD TO HEAR ABOUT HIS DEATH. I’M A LITTLE BIT OF A LONER. YOU KNOW, KIND OF A UNIQUE, UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. BUT AS NICE AS COULD BE. IT’S TERRIBLE. IT’S A TRAGEDY TO HEAR THAT OF HIS PASSING TODAY. INVESTIGATORS TELL US THEY ARE STILL WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. LET’S TURN NOW TO PITTSBURGH’S ACTION WEATHER ON THIS WEDNESDAY. AND WE’RE FEELING THE ARCTIC CHILL ALL AROUND US. WIND CHILLS BELOW ZERO AND IT’S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER ANYTIME SOON. THAT IS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW. IT IS ROUGH OUT THERE. METEOROLOGIST BRIAN JUNIOR IS HERE NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. NO FREEZING ANYWHERE ON THE NO. WE GET CLOSE NEXT WEEK. RIGHT NOW IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE WE GET TO FREEZING THOUGH. AS WE HEAD INTO THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY. SO WE ARE STAYING COLD. TOMORROW IS ANOTHER IMPACT DAY FOR US, AS WE WILL STAY COLD. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THOUGH, ARE BOTH SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAYS AS WE WILL LIKELY RIVAL OUR RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES. CURRENTLY FORECASTING SEVEN BELOW ON FRIDAY, EIGHT BELOW SATURDAY MORNING. THAT WOULD BREAK THE RECORDS OF MINUS FIVE. BOTH OF THOSE WERE SET BACK IN 2019, AND AGAIN THAT SATURDAY MORNING COULD BE THE COLDEST WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR THIS SEASON, OUR COLDEST SINCE THE END OF JANUARY LAST YEAR. COLD WEATHER ADVISORIES IN EFFECT AGAIN TONIGHT FOR ALL OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. AGAIN, EXPECT WIND CHILLS BETWEEN ABOUT -10 TO -15 AS YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. CURRENT TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE SITTING IN THE TEENS AS 12 AT THE CURRENT AIR TEMPERATURE IN PITTSBURGH. YOU FACTOR IN THE WIND, THOUGH. WE FEEL LIKE WE’RE NEAR ZERO. SO IT’S GOING TO FEEL. AND WHEN THAT WARM-UP FINALLY GETS HERE, THAT’S IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. OKAY BRIAN, THANKS SO MUCH. AND WE DO WANT TO GET RIGHT BACK TO THAT BREAKING NEWS. WE’RE TRACKING RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF THIS NEWSCAST. WE ARE WATCHING THIS UNFOLD LIVE. SO WE TOLD YOU HOW WE WERE TRACKING THIS PERSON WHO WAS WALKING ALONG THE ICY ALLEGHENY RIVER. WE’RE GETTING THIS VANTAGE POINT FROM SKY 4, PITTSBURGH’S ONLY NEWS CHOPPER. THIS WAS NOT FAR FROM THE AREA OF THE FULTON BRIDGE. AND ANDREW, JUST IN THE PAST FEW MOMENTS, WE SAW SOME POLICE OFFICERS COME IN. THAT’S RIGHT. POLICE OFFICERS CAME ON THE WATER, APPARENTLY, AND THEY HAVE DETAINED THIS PERSON. I THINK THEY HAVE HIM UNDER ARREST AND JUST TAKE HIM OFF THE ICE TO SAFER GROUND. BUT THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES AS AND THERE ARE THERE ARE HANDCUFFS ON HIM, WE UNDERSTAND. YES. HAND HANDCUFFS ON HIM. AND ONCE AGAIN, POLICE HAVE HIM IN CUSTODY AS THEY TAKE HIM OFF THE ICE. WE DON’T KNOW WHY HE WAS WALKING OUT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE KNOW HE WAS WALKING FOR QUITE A WHILE AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE AREA OF OAKMONT, NEAR THE HULTON BRIDGE. YEAH, WE’LL KEEP FOLLOWING THAT. UNCLEAR IF HE WAS POTENTIALLY EVADING POLICE AT ONE POINT. EXACTLY WHAT FOR? WE DON’T KNOW AT THIS POINT, BUT WE WERE JUST TRACKING THIS IN REAL TIME. WANTED TO BRING YOU THE UPDATE. WE HEAR FROM POLICE MORE ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THIS SITUATION. WILD SCENE THIS AFTERNOON ON THE ALLEGHENY RIVER. MEANTIME, A PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH STREETS ARE STILL UNPLOWED AFTER A MASSIVE WEEKEND SNOWSTORM. IN FACT, THIS IS DAY THREE OF THE CLEANUP HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE AREA. AND JUST IN THE PAST HOUR, MAYOR COREY O’CONNOR GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE CITY’S SNOW REMOVAL. AND WE WANT TO BRING IN ANCHOR KRISTEN POWERS WITH MORE ON THAT. WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS ARE THEY MAKING HERE? YEAH, BECAUSE EVERYONE’S WATCHING THAT PRETTY CLOSELY AT THIS POINT. SO MAYOR O’CONNOR SAYS THAT THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH HAS 47 PUBLIC WORKS VEHICLES ON THE ROADS CLEARING THE SNOW. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE DOZENS OF CONTRACTORS WE TOLD YOU ABOUT HELPING IN THIS CAUSE. AND THEY’RE FILLING THE GAPS WHERE THAT’S NEEDED. YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK IT’S JUST WHERE WE’RE SEEING A GAP AND WHERE WE’RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, SNOW PILE UP IN SOME AREAS AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S PILING UP EVERYWHERE. WE’RE NOT NAIVE TO THAT. BUT IF THERE’S X AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE WHERE IT’S IT’S PILING UP TOWARDS THE BUSINESS DISTRICT, TOWARDS AN INTERSECTION WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THINGS LIKE A LEFT HAND TURN, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. I THINK THAT’S WHERE WE’RE LOOKING AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS THAT WERE CLEANED, BUT NOW ON THE EDGES, THEY’RE PILING UP. O’CONNOR SAYS THERE IS NO TIMELINE RIGHT NOW FOR WHEN ALL OF THE ROADS WILL BE CLEAR. BUT HE DOES SAY THEY ARE GETTING A BETTER PICTURE OF WHERE THIS PROGRESS STANDS. HE SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS TRACKING PLOW ROUTES. I MEAN, WE SEE, YOU KNOW, CONSTANTLY GO BACK. YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO BACK 12 HOURS EVEN FURTHER ON SOME. AND WE DO SEE LIKE A LOT OF STREETS HAVE BEEN HIT. THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES, WE’RE HITTING THEM AND THEY’RE NOT GOING ALL THE WAY TO CONCRETE, AS YOU SEE ON SOME OF OUR MAIN ROADS. SO MAYOR O’CONNOR DID MENTION CHAIRS POPPING UP IN THE STREETS OF PITTSBURGH. I KNOW I SAW THAT DRIVING AROUND TODAY TO HOLD PARKING SPACES AFTER PEOPLE DUG OUT THEIR CARS. HE DOES ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE RESPECTFUL AND COURTEOUS TO EACH OTHER. ANDREW KELLY. KRISTEN. THANK YOU. NOW BACK TO MORE OF OUR WINTER WEATHER COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR THIS GARBAGE TRUCK IN SHARPSBURG. TAKE A LOOK. THIS IS THE AREA OF 10TH STREET. A LARGE TOW TRUCK WAS NEEDED TO HELP GET THE GARBAGE TRUCK UNSTUCK. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. NOW, WHILE IT CAN BE A TOUGH JOB, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN ALL THE SNOW OFF YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE YOU DRIVE THAT VEHICLE. RIGHT. I’M SURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN SEEING, DRIVING AROUND CARS THAT LOOK LIKE SNOWBALLS, RIGHT? WE’RE TRYING TO AVOID. AND IN FACT, IF YOU DON’T CLEAR YOUR CARS, YOU COULD ACTUALLY BE BREAKING THE LAW. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM JOINING US LIVE THIS AFTERNOON, NOT FAR FROM THE PARKWAY EAST IN EDGEWOOD. SHELDON, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE RULES AND WHAT CAN THE PUNISHMENT FOR THIS BE? WELL, HERE’S WHAT’S GOING ON. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL DRIVING AROUND TODAY WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW ON THEIR CARS. NOW, STATE POLICE SAY THAT SNOW SHOULD BE REMOVED WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER SNOWFALL TODAY. YOU SEE PLENTY OF CARS ON THE ROADWAYS WITH SEVERAL INCHES STACKED ON TOP OF THE ROOFS OF THEIR CARS. NOW, STATE POLICE SAY THAT POLICE IN ANY JURISDICTION CAN PULL YOU OVER AND ISSUE A CITATION. THE FINES CAN RANGE FROM $50 FOR DRIVING WITH SNOW ON THE ROOF, OR THE HOOD OF YOUR CAR, OR IF THAT SNOW HITS ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSES AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH. THE FINE CAN RANGE FROM 200 TO $1500. HERE’S MORE FROM STATE POLICE. IF YOU’RE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD AND A LARGE CHUNK OF SNOW OR ICE COMES DISLODGED, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY STRIKE A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING NEARBY YOUR VEHICLE. IT COULD STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. AND SO THE LAWS FOCUS ON PREVENTING INJURY AND DEATH AND KEEPING THE VISIBILITY GOOD FOR THE DRIVER. NOW, STATE POLICE SAY IT IS THE SNOW ICE LAW, AND IT ALSO PERTAINS TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CLEAR SO THAT THE DRIVERS CAN SEE IN FRONT OF THEM AND THROUGH THEIR REAR VIEW MIRROR MIRRORS. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN EDGEWOOD, SHELDON INGRAM PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. ALL GOOD ADVICE, SHELDON. THANK YOU. WE’VE BEEN STAYING ON TOP OF SALT SUPPLIES ACROSS OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THAT’S RIGHT. BEFORE THE STORM EVEN HIT, THERE WERE MULTIPLE PLACES SOUNDING THE ALARM THAT THEY WERE RUNNING LOW ON SUPPLIES. NOW, LEARNING TODAY, IT IS STILL NOT EASY TO GET SUPPLIES HERE. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER CHANDI CHAPMAN IS FOLLOWING UP THIS AFTERNOON FROM CARNEGIE. I’M HERE AT THE CARNEGIE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, WHERE THE UPSTAIRS IS ACTUALLY A 24 HOUR WARMING CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC. NOW, TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP, MAKING THAT SNOW CLEANUP EVEN TOUGHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE’S A SALT SHORTAGE. CARNEGIE IS PART OF A PURCHASING CO-OP CALLED THE SOUTH HILLS AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT THAT BUYS AND SHARES THE SALT SUPPLY. PATRICK CONNORS, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHEA, SAYS THERE ARE 23 MEMBERS AND THE SALT SHORTAGE IS AFFECTING 99 COMMUNITIES. HE SAYS RIGHT NOW, FIVE BARGES OF SALT THAT COME ALL THE WAY FROM LOUISIANA ARE NOW ALONG THE RIVER. CREWS HAVE UNLOADED SOME BARGES, BUT THE ICY RIVER IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO UNLOAD ALL OF THE BARGES SO SALT CAN BE DELIVERED TO MUNICIPALITIES AND BOROUGHS. THEY’VE UNLOADED ONE BARGE YESTERDAY AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UNLOADING TWO BARGES TODAY, SO THAT’S ABOUT 4500 TONS OF SALT WITH THOSE THREE BARGES THAT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 1500 TONS A DAY CAN BE DISTRIBUTED WITH THE TRUCK SYSTEM TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE PITTSBURGH REGION. COMING UP HERE, MORE ABOUT HOW THAT SALT SHORTAGE WILL AFFECT THE ROADS COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN CARNEGIE. CHANDI CHAPMAN PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH. AND IF YOU ARE NOT IN FRONT OF YOUR TV BUT YOU WANT TO STAY UP TO DATE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WTAE APP DOWNLOADED. YOU CAN USE THAT TO TRACK THE FORECAST HOUR BY HOUR. AND ALSO GET ALL THE LATEST ON CLOSINGS AND DELAYS AS THEY COME IN. ALSO, BY THE WAY, WE DO HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION POSTED ON WTAE.COM. AND PLENTY STILL TO COME HERE AT FOUR ON FOUR INCLUDING TRACKING THAT RIVER ICE WHERE A LOCAL LOCK AND DAM SHOWING YOU HOW THEY’RE WORKING TO KEEP WATER TRAFFIC MOVING. PLUS THINKING WARM THOUGHTS. WE ALL NEED TO DO IT. THE FIRST JOB FAIRS WERE JUST ANNOUNCED FOR KENNYWOOD, IDLEWILD AND SANDCASTLE AND LATER SOMETHING TO DO INSIDE ON ONE OF THESE FRIGID COLD DAYS. THE PUSH FOR A PITTSBURGH THEMED LEGO SET. AND IT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER COLD DAY FOR US TOMORROW. ANOTHER COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. WIND CHILLS WILL START SUBZERO AND STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE SINGLE DIGITS. THE WORST, THOUGH, IS STILL AHEAD. I’M DETAILING OUR BACK TO BACK SERE WEATHER ALERT DAYS. WHEN WE COMEALL RIGHT, WE’RE COM HERE ONCE AGAIN WITH THE BREAKING NEWS WE’VE BEEN TRACKING SINCE THE TOP OF THE HOUR, BECAUSE WE’RE STARTING TO GET SOME UPDATES HERE. SO AS A RECAP, IN THE PAST FEW MOMENTS, SKY FOUR CAPTURED POLICE APPREHENDING A MAN WHO HAD BEEN WALKING ON THE ICY ALLEGHENY RIVER. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. HE WAS CAPTURED IN THE AREA NEAR THE FULTON BRIDGE. WE SAW POLICE PUTTING THIS PERSON IN HANDCUFFS. WE DON’T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER DETAILS OTHER THAN TO SAY WE DID LEARN. THIS STARTED AS A PURSUIT INVOLVING CITY OF PITTSBURGH POLICE, SO THEY WERE CERTAINLY LOOKING FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL. WE WILL BRING YOU MORE DETAILS ON THIS STORY AS WE GET THEM. IN THE MEANTIME, POSTAL WORKERS BRAVING THE ELEMENTS TODAY TO DELIVER YOUR MAIL. BUT AT WHAT POINT DO OBSTACLES LIKE SNOW AND ICE PREVENT THEM FROM DELIVERING THE MAIL SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY? I’VE BEEN WONDERING THAT SEEING THEM OUT AND ABOUT THIS WEEK FOR SURE COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FOR US ON PITTSBURGH’S NORTHSIDE. REPORTER KALEA GUNDERSON SHOWS US HOW THIS STORM IS IMPACTING OUR MAIL DELIVERY. WELL, THE WEATHER CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE DISRUPTIONS TO MAIL DELIVERY, BUT TONIGHT, MAIL CARRIERS WALKING ME THROUGH WHAT THE CUSTOMERS CAN DO TO TRY TO EASE THOSE DISRUPTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS MAILBOX IS BLOCKED BY SEVERAL FEET OF SNOW. PERHAPS A PLOW CAME THROUGH AND PLOWED THAT SNOW UP AGAINST THE MAILBOX. OR PERHAPS THE SNOWFALL JUST HASN’T YET BEEN CLEARED. THAT MEANS A TRUCK CAN’T PULL RIGHT UP TO THE MAILBOX TO MAKE THAT DELIVERY. BUT LET’S SAY YOU CLEARED A PATH TO YOUR MAILBOX. WELL, THAT’S GREAT, BUT MAIL CARRIERS SAY THEY STILL CAN’T PULL A TRUCK RIGHT UP TO THE MAILBOX. THEN IT LEAVES IT UP TO THEIR DISCRETION. DO THEY WANT TO WASTE THE TIME TO GET OUT AND MAKE THAT DELIVERY BY FOOT? AND IS IT SAFE TO DO SO? WITH THAT, WE GOT SECONDARY PROBLEMS WITH IT COULD BE ICY. A LOT OF TIMES HIDDEN IN THE SNOW MIGHT BE SOME OTHER KIND OF LIKE A SHOVEL OR A SLED GETS HIDDEN. YOU GOT OTHER OBSTACLES IN THERE, ICY STEPS, THINGS LIKE THAT. NOW, THIS THIS CUSTOMER MADE MADE THAT EFFORT. I WOULD ATTEMPT TO MAKE THAT DELIVERY UNTIL IT BECAME SUPER COST. LIKE TOO MUCH TIME. THEN WE JUST WOULDN’T BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO MAKE ALL THOSE DELIVERIES. WHAT MAIL CARRIERS IDEALLY WANT TO SEE IS THIS A CLEAR SPACE SURROUNDING THE MAILBOX SO THEY CAN PULL THEIR TRUCK UP AND MAKE THAT DELIVERY EFFICIENTLY? SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR MAIL CARRIERS DELIVERING ON FOOT AND FOR THEIR FLEET OF DELIVERY VEHICLES. TONIGHT AT 5:00, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY TONIGHT ON THE NORTH SIDE KALEA GUNDERSON PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. APPARENTLY, OUR THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE MAIL CARRIERS AND EVERYONE WHO HAS TO BE WORKING IN THESE CONDITIONS. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS BECAUSE REALLY, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST TELLING IMAGES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE INCREDIBLE ICE BUILDUP WE’RE SEEING NOW ON OUR RIVERS DRONE FOR GIVING US THE BEST VIEW OF THIS SITUATION. AND OF COURSE, WHILE WE LOVE LOOKING AT THEM, THOSE RIVERS ARE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTING ALL SORTS OF MATERIALS, AND TOO MUCH ICE CAN CAUSE BIG PROBLEMS. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER YASMIN RODRIGUEZ IS IN LEEDS. DALE WITH WHAT? WORKERS AT A LOCAL LOCK AND DAM ARE DEALING WITH, WITH MORE FREEZING TEMPERATURES FORECASTED FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, A BIG ISSUE BECOMES ICE ON THE RIVER. WELL, LOCK AND DAM DOING ABOUT THAT ISSUE. MILLIONS OF TONS OF EQUIPMENT MOVED THROUGH HERE ON THE OHIO RIVER. BUT YOU CAN SEE ICE IS STARTING TO COVER THAT RIVER, AND THAT CAN PRESENT A BIG CHALLENGE TO LOCK AND DAM. TOO MUCH ICE CAN BLOCK THE RIVER. THAT MEANS POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT AND MILLIONS OF TONS OF ITEMS. DON’T MAKE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION. SO IT’S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK SITUATION TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN. ALAN NOGI, THE OPERATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THESE DAMS, TELL ME THAT RIGHT NOW THERE’S REALLY NO ISSUE. BUT THAT COULD CHANGE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. IN THESE CONDITIONS, IT GETS VERY DIFFICULT. WE’RE DOING OKAY RIGHT NOW. WE’RE STILL OPERATIONAL AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES. BUT IF THIS PERSISTS, WHICH JUDGING BY THE FORECAST, IT’S GOING TO, WE MAY RUN INTO A SITUATION. NOW COMING UP, WE’LL TELL YOU THE NATIONAL EFFECTS THAT WILL BE FELT IF THAT BECOMES THE CASE. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN LEEDS, DALE RODRIGUEZ, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. OKAY. WE’LL KEEP WATCHING THAT. YASMIN THANK YOU. AND MANY EYES WILL BE ON PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TONIGHT. TO REOPEN THE DISCUSSION ON CLOSING SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT. NOW, IT WAS JUST BACK IN NOVEMBER. THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED AGAINST A PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE CLOSED AT LEAST NINE BUILDINGS. NOW, WHAT WE DON’T KNOW YET IS WHETHER THEY ARE LOOKING AT THAT ORIGINAL PLAN TONIGHT OR A DIFFERENT VERSION. THE MEETING IS SET FOR 630. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON WHAT COMES OUT OF IT AND THINKING THOSE WARMER THOUGHTS. NOW. KENNYWOOD. IDLEWILD, EVEN SANDCASTLE ARE GEARING UP FOR THE 2026 SEASON. JUST EVEN SEEING THE VIDEOS. NICE. ACTUALLY, KENNYWOOD IS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN 1500 PEOPLE TO JOIN THEIR TEAM. SANDCASTLE AND IDLEWILD LOOKING TO HIRE ABOUT 500. FIRST JOB FAIR WILL BE ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH. THAT WILL BE FOR IDLEWILD. IT WILL BE HOSTED AT THE LIGONIER VALLEY LIBRARY. THE FIRST JOB FAIR FOR KENNYWOOD AND SANDCASTLE WILL BE SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH AT KENNYWOOD PARK. AND SPEAKING OF THE WATER, AS WE TURN TO PITTSBURGH’S ACTION, WHETHER WE GOT A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW COLD IT REALLY IS OUTSIDE FROM THAT VIDEO, THAT GENTLEMAN WALKING ON THE RIVER. IT’S THAT COLD FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT WAS NOT BREAKING ANYWHERE. METEOROLOGIST BRANDON JUNIOR STANDING BY. OF COURSE, WE DON’T RECOMMEND THAT, BUT BRIAN, REALLY? AND EVEN SEEING THE DRONE VIDEO OF OUR RIVERS, IT IS SO ICY OUT THERE. YEAH. AND OUR ICE WILL KEEP THICKENING UP AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK AS OUR TEMPERATURES STAY ON THE COLD SIDE. THERE’S NO BIG WARMING TREND ANYTIME SOON. WE WILL TRY TO GET CLOSER TO NORMAL AS WE START FEBRUARY. TOMORROW WE’LL GO BACK ON IMPACT DAY AS WELL AS WE’LL BE WATCHING FOR SINGLE DIGIT WIND CHILLS ON BOTH SIDES OF ZERO, STARTING IN THE MORNING AND CONTINUING INTO THEN SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. WE COULD SET RECORD LOWS BOTH MORNINGS. SATURDAY MORNING COULD BE THE COLDEST WE’VE BEEN IN JUST OVER A YEAR, AND THE COLDEST OF THIS STRETCH. BEFORE WE START HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AGAIN TONIGHT, A COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS WILL LAST UNTIL 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING. AGAIN, IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE EARLY, WIND CHILLS WILL BE SITTING GENERALLY BETWEEN ABOUT TEN AND 15 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. STARTING THE DAY, AIR TEMPERATURES HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO WARM TODAY, EVEN THOUGH WE’VE GOTTEN SOME SUNSHINE WITH THE COLD AIR IN PLACE AND FRESH SNOWPACK STILL, THAT REALLY MAKES IT STRUGGLE FOR TEMPERATURES TO TRY AND WARM. WE’RE SITTING IN THE TEENS PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD. FRANKLIN’S AT NINE, DUBOIS IS AT EIGHT, SOMERSET ALSO AT NINE. WE FACTOR THE WIND AND IT FEELS LIKE IT’S ZERO AT THE AIRPORT. THREE BELOW IN GREENSBURG, FIVE BELOW IN FRANKLIN, ONE BELOW IN KITTANNING. FEELS LIKE IT’S ALSO ONE BELOW IN WASHINGTON. AND AGAIN, THESE WIND CHILLS AGAIN WILL GET WORSE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE NIGHT TONIGHT. BY THE TIME WE GET TO TOMORROW MORNING, EXPECT WIND CHILLS GENERALLY BETWEEN ABOUT EIGHT AND 15 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. SO ANOTHER COLD START TO THE DAY. IF KIDS ARE HEADING BACK TOMORROW, MAKE SURE THEY ARE BUNDLED UP AND WIND CHILLS SLOWLY IMPROVE. JUST LIKE TODAY. BACK TOWARDS ZERO. BY THIS TIME TOMORROW. AND THEN WE GET EVEN COLDER AS WE HEAD INTO FRIDAY. WILL GO ON SEVERE WEATHER ALERT DAY AS WIND CHILLS WILL AGAIN SIT BETWEEN ABOUT TEN AND 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. AIR TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO BE VERY COLD ON FRIDAY MORNING, SO WE’LL START AT TWO TOMORROW. WE’LL FINISH AT 15, THEN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS AGAIN. RECORD LOWS AT SEVEN BELOW AND EIGHT BELOW. THE RECORDS. BOTH MORNINGS ARE FIVE BELOW. WE SHOULD BREAK THOSE. WIND CHILLS SATURDAY MORNING COULD GET TO 20 TO 25 BELOW ZERO WITH HOW COLD IT’S GOING TO BE. WE’LL GO AN IMPACT DAY ONE MORE TIME BACK TO 17, AND THEN FINALLY A MORE SEASONABLY COLD STRETCH. STILL COLD, BUT CLOSER TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE. 24 MONDAY 28 TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES NEAR 30 WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. RIGHT NOW IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WE BREAK FREEZING, BUT 29 IS GOING TO FEEL LIKE A HEAT WAVE COMPARED TO WHERE WE HAVE BEEN. SO IT IS STILL COLD AND IT IS ICY OUT THERE ON ACTION. CAM 12 IS THE CURRENT TEMPERATURE. WINDS ARE SOUTHWEST AT NINE. IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT AGAIN, WIND CHILLS WILL DROP THROUGH THE NIGHT. MAKE SURE YOU’RE BUNDLED UP.
Ice buildup on Pittsburgh rivers threatens barge operations
Ice accumulation on Pittsburgh’s rivers is causing significant challenges for barge operations
Updated: 5:59 PM EST Jan 28, 2026
Ice accumulation on Pittsburgh’s rivers is posing significant challenges for barge operations, potentially leading to increased costs and safety concerns as the ice thickens.VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 “We have things like fuel that goes through here, we have rock salt that goes through here that goes through multiple municipalities from ports, we have coal that goes to the steel mill, so all of those things would definitely slow down and decrease,” said Alan Nogy, the operations and project manager for the locks and dams branch for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District.If the ice along the rivers becomes too thick, barges filled with these essential items cannot pass through, leading to potential cost increases. Additionally, the heavy ice load risks damaging equipment.”Once that ice load starts getting so heavy, we run the risk of potentially damaging our equipment,” said Nogy.Daily operations at the lock and dam involve ensuring everything is running smoothly, circulating water constantly, and turning chambers over to prevent ice buildup.”We gotta make sure everything’s running, we circulate water all the time, we turn our chambers over so that the ice can’t build up, so we do everything we can to maintain operation for our industry partners,” said Nogy.If conditions worsen, restrictions may be implemented to protect workers and barges, such as shortening tow lengths, using smaller vessels, and reducing workers’ time on the wall.”We still have a job to do, our responsibility is to do it to the fullest, but once it becomes unsafe, that’s when the line starts to get drawn,” said Nogy.Currently, the Allegheny River is 100% covered in ice, while the Ohio River, where the lock and dam are located, is 60% covered.”I would say this is getting close to the worst I’ve seen in 30 years, and it may exceed it, I’m hoping not,” said Nogy.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
Ice accumulation on Pittsburgh’s rivers is posing significant challenges for barge operations, potentially leading to increased costs and safety concerns as the ice thickens.
VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4
“We have things like fuel that goes through here, we have rock salt that goes through here that goes through multiple municipalities from ports, we have coal that goes to the steel mill, so all of those things would definitely slow down and decrease,” said Alan Nogy, the operations and project manager for the locks and dams branch for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District.
If the ice along the rivers becomes too thick, barges filled with these essential items cannot pass through, leading to potential cost increases. Additionally, the heavy ice load risks damaging equipment.
“Once that ice load starts getting so heavy, we run the risk of potentially damaging our equipment,” said Nogy.
Daily operations at the lock and dam involve ensuring everything is running smoothly, circulating water constantly, and turning chambers over to prevent ice buildup.
“We gotta make sure everything’s running, we circulate water all the time, we turn our chambers over so that the ice can’t build up, so we do everything we can to maintain operation for our industry partners,” said Nogy.
If conditions worsen, restrictions may be implemented to protect workers and barges, such as shortening tow lengths, using smaller vessels, and reducing workers’ time on the wall.
“We still have a job to do, our responsibility is to do it to the fullest, but once it becomes unsafe, that’s when the line starts to get drawn,” said Nogy.
Currently, the Allegheny River is 100% covered in ice, while the Ohio River, where the lock and dam are located, is 60% covered.
“I would say this is getting close to the worst I’ve seen in 30 years, and it may exceed it, I’m hoping not,” said Nogy.
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel