Pittsburgh, PA – Mountain roads across the Laurel Highlands and northern West Virginia could become impassable overnight as up to 14 inches of snow piles up before daybreak Monday and continues through Monday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday for the higher elevations of Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties in Pennsylvania, along with Preston and Tucker counties in West Virginia. Snow totals between 6 and 12 inches are expected in most ridge-top communities, including Ligonier, Donegal and Ohiopyle. Eastern Tucker County, including Davis, Thomas and Canaan Valley, could see 8 to 14 inches, with wind gusts reaching 45 mph.
Travel along Route 30 over Laurel Summit, Route 219 near Somerset County’s southern border and WV Route 32 through Canaan Valley may deteriorate rapidly. Blowing snow could push visibility below a quarter mile, especially on exposed ridges such as Coopers Rock and Terra Alta. The Monday morning and evening commutes face the greatest disruption.
Strong winds in eastern Tucker County may snap tree limbs and trigger isolated power outages as snow clings to branches.
Officials urge residents to delay nonessential travel and prepare for sudden visibility drops. Warnings remain in effect through 1 a.m. Tuesday, and additional advisories could follow if snowfall rates intensify.
