Crews across Pittsburgh region preparing for winter storm moving in

PITTSBURGH — Several inches of snow are projected to fall throughout our region overnight Saturday, and Allegheny County is preparing the roads for safe travel.

>> WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: Several inches of snow possible across the area

Channel 11′s Severe Weather Team predicts snow showers will move in by dinner-time Friday with steady snow expected this evening through about midnight. This will be powdery snow, which means it will not have trouble sticking. Trends in the last 24 hours have been for a more northern track, putting two to four-inch amounts into Pittsburgh with six inches or higher expected southeast into the ridges.

The snow is expected to end Saturday morning, with some periodic flurries throughout.

The Allegheny County Department of Public Works said they will deploy 25 salt trucks with plows when the snow starts. They will provide around-the-clock coverage until the snow stops and all county-maintained roads are clear.

Public works said it usually takes drivers around one to two hours to complete their routes and then an additional hour to return to the nearest maintenance garage, reload with salt and restart their routes.

Drivers are encouraged to slow down, leave extra space between them and the car in front of them, give themselves extra time for their trips and give salt trucks room to operate.

Allegheny County is responsible for snow and ice removal on 357 miles of roadway. Residents can learn which entity is responsible for removing snow from a specific road within the county by visiting Who Plows My Road at http://alleghenycounty.us/whoplowsmyroad.

Westmoreland County crews prepared for winter storm moving in Friday evening

Westmoreland County is prepared too. They tell Channel 11 they have eight plow drivers working 12-hour shifts, have plenty of salt and anti-skid material, and will adjust schedules as needed depending on the storm.

“We take it by every time we get ready for the snow storms,” said Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell, who is also the city’s Public Works Department Supervisor. “We’ve got plenty of salt, I’ve got, looks like I’ll have six trucks deployed this evening, or bright and early tomorrow morning depending on when this hits.”

Having a rather light winter in terms of snowfall has actually made preparing for these storms easier.

“It’s much easier this season and last season,” Bell said. “I mean, we’re fully stocked. We’ve been fully stocked for the last two years.”

Bell said if you have to be on the roads – it’s important to be careful.

“With our salt trucks, don’t try to pass them because they’re throwing salt and everything,” Bell said. “These trucks are pretty big, and some of these roads are just single lane and it makes it tough for them to navigate through the neighborhoods.”

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