PITTSBURGH, PA — Western Pennsylvania is waking up to a cold, active late-November pattern as lake effect snow showers continue north of Interstate 80 and a new system Sunday may deliver the first measurable snow for many in the region.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh reports that snowfall rates near 0.5 to 1 inch per hour are possible this morning across Venango, Mercer, and northern Clarion Counties, with lake bands extending south at times toward Franklin and Oil City. These bursts could reduce visibility quickly and make roads slick through early Friday, especially on I-80 and nearby routes.
“Motorists should drive with caution today,” forecasters warned. “Snow may accumulate faster than it can be cleared in stronger bands.”
By Saturday, skies will briefly clear and winds will ease, but attention shifts to Sunday morning, when a new low-pressure system could bring a quick round of accumulating snow across western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Current forecasts show a 20–35% chance of at least one inch in the Pittsburgh metro, increasing to 60% north toward Oil City, Meadville, and Cleveland.
While this system isn’t expected to be major, it could bring slick early-morning travel and mark the first snow of the season for parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. Temperatures will stay below normal through next week, signaling the start of a true early winter pattern heading into December.
