December arrives with a blast of snow

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

“Meteorological winter” has come to the Mon Valley and Greater Pittsburgh region.

Western Pennsylvania residents woke to snow on their walkways, cars and lawns Tuesday morning.

The snow continued to fall throughout the day as motorists made their way to and from work.

“We’re up to 4.2 inches for the total!” the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh said in a tweet around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. “The perfect way to start meteorological winter!”

Meteorologists and climatologists break the seasons down into groupings of three months based on the annual temperature cycle as well as our calendar, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Meteorological winter is made up of December, January and February.

NWS Pittsburgh on Monday cautioned area residents that snow would be falling throughout the day Tuesday and into this morning as a majority of the region was under a winter weather advisory. Area governments also did their part Monday night to warn area residents. 

Allegheny County’s Department of Public Works said it had 26 salt trucks equipped with plows deployed throughout the day Tuesday, beginning at 4 a.m.

“Drivers will be kept over the end of their shifts and added drivers will be brought in, as needed, to provide constant coverage until the precipitation stops and county roadways are clear,” the Department of Public Works said in a statement Monday night. 

Just as predicted, the snow fell.

“Waking up to a winter wonder land,” Glassport Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post early Tuesday morning. “It’s that time of the year. Though our street department does a fantastic job of keeping our roads clear in town, this is not the same for everywhere. 

“Give yourself extra time to get to where you are going. Do not use excessive speed, slow down. Give yourself enough space in between other cars. Take your time.”

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