7 day forecast
Icy weather slows commute, delays schools across Western Pennsylvania
-
A man walks along Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill this morning while avoiding the slush and the slick sidewalk. -
Ice and slush along Forbes Avenue in Oakland as traffic moves along the street.
Share with others:
Freezing rain fell much of the night over a widespread area of the region, causing icy and slushy roadways, treacherous sidewalks, and another round of school delays.
A list of the latest school delays and closings are available from the PG's news partner, KDKA-TV.
While the bulk of the precipitation has moved out of the region, commuters still should be on the lookout for icy spots.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has posted a winter weather advisory until 1 p.m. for a wide area of the region -- from southeastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, western Maryland through all of Western Pennsylvania -- advising travelers of freezing rain that will cause ice.
About a tenth of an inch of ice covered the ground before dawn across Western Pennsylvania.
PennDOT kept the Parkway North HOV lanes closed for a while this morning, as is typical during storms, to allow crews to focus on keeping the mainline lanes cleared. The lanes opened shortly before 8:30 a.m.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike this morning was operating under a weather advisory. Emergency crews are working on to maintain the highway. Abandoned vehicles may be removed from the turnpike to allow crews to clear the roadway.
To the north of Pittsburgh, Clarion, Forest, Venango and Jefferson counties are under a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. Ice is expected to accumulate and 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected to fall.
The latest advisories, watches and warnings are available at the National Weather Service website.
The freezing rain is expected to end by mid morning, but ice could remain in spots until the temperature rises sufficiently. Light rain will continue for the rest of the day with highs reaching into the mid 40s. Winds from the southwest will reach 10 to 15 mph.
First Published January 28, 2013 5:29 am
