The Pittsburgh area braces for a wintry end to the year as the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh forecasts heavy snowfall heading into New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. According to the NWS Pittsburgh area forecast, snow showers will persist through the early morning hours, and a significant snow event is looming as the week progresses.
Travelers in the Pittsburgh region faced slick roads and reduced visibility this morning due to intermittent snow showers and squalls. These conditions, resulting from a large-scale disturbance passing through the Northeast, prompted a Winter Weather Advisory, which remains in effect until 1 PM EST today. Narrow snow bands, only a few miles wide, may produce localized accumulations of one-half inch to one inch in as little as one to two hours, the National Weather Service stated, signaling potentially hazardous travel conditions.
The wintry conditions are expected to dampen after a brief period of afternoon ridging, but another shortwave from the Great Lakes is set to trigger more snowfall after dark. This additional activity, carrying the potential for a dusting to one-half inch of snow, poses further interruptions on the cusp of the holiday festivities.
As the clock winds down towards 2023, eyes are fixed on a larger snow system set to roll in for New Year's Eve. A Winter Storm Watch takes effect Wednesday afternoon and extends through Thursday morning, with totals of six to eight inches possible due to enhanced upslope flow, according to the forecast. The higher elevations brace for the heftier snow totals, while lower regions anticipate a Winter Weather Advisory soon.
For air travelers, the persistent snow showers mean more than just a white New Year's celebration. Aviation operations are seeing MVFR ceilings through most of the period, as reported by the NWS Pittsburgh forecast. Snow showers tapering off this morning are expected to resume midweek, with westerly surface winds remaining gusty through the period.
Residents and visitors can look forward to a brief respite from the snow and gusty conditions by Thursday night, with the NWS outlook projecting mostly quiet conditions and a cold continuation into the weekend. However, the peace might only be a pause, as the chill of winter firmly entrenches itself over the region.
