Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – An Ice Storm Warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. EST Saturday for parts of western and northern Pennsylvania, where significant icing is expected to create extremely hazardous travel conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.
The warning includes Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Armstrong, Indiana, and higher elevations of Westmoreland and Indiana counties. Affected communities include Oil City, Franklin, Tionesta, Clarion, Brookville, Punxsutawney, Kittanning, Ford City, Indiana, Armagh, Ligonier, and Donegal.
Forecasters say ice accumulations between two and three tenths of an inch are expected, while snowfall totals will remain below one inch. Ice of this magnitude can place significant stress on trees and power lines, increasing the risk of power outages and tree damage.
The National Weather Service warns that roads, bridges, and overpasses will likely become slick and hazardous, with travel potentially nearly impossible at times. The dangerous conditions are expected to impact the Friday evening commute and continue overnight into early Saturday morning.
Motorists may encounter rapidly deteriorating road conditions, especially on hills, curves, and untreated secondary roads. Officials urge residents to delay all travel if possible.
Those who must travel are advised to drive with extreme caution, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking or acceleration. Vehicles should be properly winterized and stocked with emergency supplies.
Residents are encouraged to report ice accumulations or damage to the National Weather Service by calling 412-262-1988, posting to the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using X @NWSPittsburgh.
The Ice Storm Warning is scheduled to expire at 7 a.m. EST Saturday, though lingering ice-covered roads and outages may continue to affect the region beyond that time.
