Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – A fast-moving winter system is creating dangerous travel conditions across parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia early on New Year’s Day, with snow squalls, accumulating snow, and slick roads impacting the Thursday morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. for much of western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Snow squalls tracking along a cold front are producing quick bursts of snow, reducing visibility, and allowing roads to become snow-covered in minutes. Additional snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected across much of the advisory area.
The most widespread impacts stretch from eastern Ohio counties such as Belmont, Jefferson, Harrison, and Columbiana into western Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh metro, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington, and Indiana counties. Roads, bridges, and overpasses are especially hazardous, with PennDOT urging drivers to slow down and avoid sudden braking.
Farther north, lake effect snow is affecting northeast Ohio. According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, advisories remain in effect until 7 a.m. for Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Stark, Summit, Portage, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties. Additional snow up to one inch is expected, but gusty winds near 35 mph may cause blowing snow and rapidly changing conditions, especially along Interstates 90 and 80.
In West Virginia, the National Weather Service in Charleston reports 2 to 4 inches of additional snow across central, northern, and southern parts of the state, including Charleston, Clarksburg, Morgantown, and Beckley. Snow-covered roads are expected to persist through mid-morning.
Residents across the tri-state region are urged to delay non-essential travel, monitor 511 road updates, and remain alert for sudden snow squalls. Conditions improve later this morning, but lingering slick spots may remain into the afternoon.
