Butler County in winter weather warning area
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh changed its status from winter weather watch to the more intense winter weather warning due to an expected combination of snow and ice.
The warning was issued at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The warning said impacts from snow and ice will likely be seen on Thursday afternoon into Friday, with higher snow totals north of Interstate 80.
Ice accumulation will be the primary threat for most of the area, according to the NWS.
A map that accompanied the warning showed the north and northwestern section of the county receiving 6 to 8 inches of snow, 4 to 6 inches in a diagonal line through the middle of the county, 3 to 4 inches for most of the southern half of the county, and a small section of the far southeastern communities at 2 to 3 inches of snow.
Regarding ice accumulation, the NWS predicted up to a quarter-inch of ice across the entire county.
The forecast shows the storm will begin Wednesday night, but Jason Frazier, a meteorologist with NWS Pittsburgh, said conditions at that time will mostly be wet rain.
“We’re looking more so Thursday night into Friday for these impacts to be seen.”
Frazier said it is uncertain how long the precipitation will stay in the freezing rain stage before moving into sleet conditions and then eventually snow. He said by Friday, the forecast expects precipitation to be almost all snow with between 1 and 3 inches expected for the area.
“Part of the uncertainty is when that cold air is going to get into place,” Frazier said. “The impacts from the snow won’t be too notable; it’s that combination of that freezing rain and the snow that could cause a warning to be issued.“
Frazier said the ice will make for slick conditions on roads and sidewalks, and it will make it generally more dangerous to be outside.
He recommended anyone with plans Thursday or Friday morning, should make those plans with poor conditions in mind.
“It’s time to kind of prepare, be aware and watch for the weather forecasts available,“ he said. “We recommend for people to stay off roads, stay indoors and out of the elements.“
According to the forecast for Saturday, the storm should largely be gone, leaving behind only the cold, which will likely keep Butler County in single-digit temperatures.
Frank Matis, Butler County manager at the state Department of Transportation's District 10, spent Wednesday morning on the phone and in meetings with weather experts to try to determine when the various forms of precipitation will come in the next few days.
Matis said applying liquid brine to the roads ahead of the ice or snow would be a waste, as it would be washed away by the rain that was expected to precede the snow and ice.
“This whole storm is going to depend on how it comes in,” Matis said.
But he assures the public that the county’s 42 trucks will treat their 1,600 miles of state roadway around the clock until the onslaught passes and driving conditions are safe.
“We are going to be able to handle whatever comes,” Matis said.
He cautioned motorists to stay home if they can during the storm, and had advice for those who have no choice but to brave the roads.
“Give yourself plenty of time,” Matis said. “Driving on ice is not an easy situation to deal with.”
Motorists who find themselves behind a PennDOT truck should stay 500 feet back and never pass the truck, no matter what.
“It’s applying material behind it that is going to help you drive,” Matis said.
He said the upcoming storm is no worse or better than the last storm that saw PennDOT operators working 12-hour shifts to keep state roads safe.
“Each storm is going to have different challenges,” Matis said.
