Pittsburgh, PA – Motorists traveling Interstate 79 may encounter sudden snow bursts and rapidly shifting road conditions from Saturday, December 7, through Friday, December 13, according to early guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS). Several fast-moving disturbances are expected to pass through the region during a busy period for holiday travel.
According to the NWS, a series of quick systems linked to the Alberta Clipper pattern may sweep across western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. These disturbances often develop with little notice and can produce abrupt visibility drops, quick pavement icing, and short-lived yet significant bursts of snow.
Forecasters say impacts may be most noticeable along the I-79 corridor through Washington, Waynesburg, Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg, and Charleston, where elevation changes and colder overnight temperatures can magnify road hazards. Even weak disturbances can briefly complicate travel on bridges, ramps, and higher-speed rural stretches.
While snowfall amounts remain uncertain, meteorologists stress that totals are not the primary concern. Instead, they caution drivers about the potential for rapid-onset slowdowns, particularly during morning and evening traffic windows when early holiday travel is expected to intensify.
Segments near the Pennsylvania–West Virginia border and the Clarksburg–Charleston stretch may be especially vulnerable to sudden bursts due to terrain and wind flow patterns.
The NWS recommends that motorists monitor updated forecasts through the December 7–13 timeframe, as additional disturbances may arrive with little advance warning.
