Everything you need to know about the incoming snowstorm in Western PA

PITTSBURGH — Inches of snow are expected to fall in the Western Pennsylvania area overnight and into Monday. Here’s everything you need to know.

Winter Weather Alert issued for local counties

Winter Weather Alerts will go into effect tonight for Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene and points south through late Monday night. Snow will impact travel and create hazardous conditions. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for Allegheny and Indiana counties snow will impact travel; use caution if traveling.

Winter Weather Alerts 1/5/25 Winter Weather Alerts 1/5/25 (WPXI/WPXI)

When is the snow coming?

Snow will begin at around 10:00 p.m. in some areas. So far, the National Weather Service’s Winter Weather Alert is expected to be in place until late Monday night.

CLICK HERE TO TRACK THE WEATHER WITH LIVE RADAR.

How much snow is coming?

More snow is expected south of the city while less snow is expected to the north. Travel will be impacted for the areas in the advisories and warnings. The highest confidence in up to around 6″ amounts are possible from snow bands around I-70 and south for portions of Washington, Westmoreland, Greene, Fayette counties and south including the ridges and mountains of PA/WV/MD. Snowfall amounts quickly and drop off as you get closer to northern Allegheny County. Then expect much lighter amounts farther north of Allegheny County for Butler, Armstrong, northern Beaver, Indiana and points north. The highest amounts will fall in MD/WV and along I-68, with higher amounts in the highest elevations of Preston and Garette counties where some locations will reach over 10″ of snow

Is my school/business closed?

Hundreds of schools and businesses have canceled operations for tomorrow already. Channel 11 has a list of areas that will be staying home to avoid the snow.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SCHOOL/BUSINESS CLOSINGS

Pittsburgh Public Schools canceled classes early Sunday evening. Washington County also canceled jury service on Monday.

Are crews prepared for the snow?

In Allegheny County, crews have stocked up on salt. They have 28 trucks installed with ploys that are ready to be deployed.

In Pittsburgh, crews began pre-treating roads at 6 p.m. on Sunday. 70 more trucks will be deployed to handle the two to eight inches of snow predicted to fall in the city at 7 a.m.

Westmoreland County experienced heavy snowfall on Friday and stayed prepared for the incoming snow expected for Monday.

What will the roads be like?

Several local interstates will have restrictions in place for the predicted snowfall. The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, in accordance with Tier 2 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike and PennDOT are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm and to exercise caution when driving.

Who else is getting snow?

Snow is not only hitting the Pittsburgh area.

Snow and ice blanketed major roadways in nearly all of Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help any motorists who were stuck. At least 8 inches of snow were expected, particularly north of Interstate 70, as the National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions brought wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour (72.42 kilometres per hour). The warning extended to New Jersey for Monday and into early Tuesday.

“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the weather service said early Sunday.

Heavy snow and freezing rain also brought widespread disruption across Europe on Sunday, particularly in the U.K. and Germany, with several major airports forced to suspend flights.