The state is implementing and eyeing more possible road restrictions if Thursday evening brings freezing rain instead of the expected gradual transition to snow.

On Wednesday, PennDOT issued an alert to motorists about heavy rain and winter weather on Christmas Eve in Butler and surrounding counties. Christmas Eve is forecasted to be a rainy, windy day with a 100% chance of precipitation, with wind gusts reaching 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

For now, PennDOT has limited road restrictions to the Pittsburgh area along the Parkway West outbound from the Fort Pitt Tunnel to I-79. The level 1 restrictions, as they're known, will prevent motorcycles and towing trailers from driving on that stretch of the road. If Thursday's temperatures quickly drop, PennDOT spokeswoman Christina Gibbs said they would consider vehicle restrictions on certain parts of I-80.

The same level 1 restrictions will go into place at 3 p.m. Thursday on I-79 between the parts where I-80 to I-90 intersect.

“We're in the clear so far, because it's going to be a gradual transition from rain to snow,” Gibbs said.

But if the weather takes a more sudden temperature plunge, further vehicle restrictions — closing the right lane and reducing speed limits — would be put in place. Gibbs said something like the Lake Effect could hit the area harder than expected. For now, the forecast calls for 1.5 to 1.8 inches of rainfall from Thursday through 7 a.m. Christmas Day from the North Hills area of Allegheny County to Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Further north along Lake Erie, Level 3 restrictions will be in place for I-90.

On roadways with Level 3 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted except loaded single trailers with chains or approved alternate traction devices.