Urgent warnings issued ahead of storm

Most of the Mon Valley will see about a foot of snow, with several days of severe cold to follow.

As a major winter storm approaches the Mon Valley, local leaders aren’t just talking about snowfall totals — they’re asking residents to slow down, stay home if possible and look out for one another.

From road crews preparing for long shifts to emergency responders planning for around-the-clock coverage, communities across the Valley say preparation and patience will be critical as snow and dangerous cold settle in this weekend and linger well into next week.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning is in effect from Saturday evening through Monday afternoon, with heavy snow, slick travel and bitter cold expected across Western Pennsylvania.

Snow is expected to begin Saturday night, with steady snowfall continuing through much of Sunday. Forecasters say a brief period of sleet or freezing rain is possible at the onset, but significant ice accumulation is not expected.

Current projections call for 9 to 16 inches of snow across much of the Mon Valley, with some locations possibly seeing higher totals if heavier snow bands develop.

After the snow ends, extended cold will settle in.

Overnight lows are expected to drop into the single digits, with wind chills below zero. Subfreezing temperatures could persist for a week or longer, increasing the risk of frozen pipes, heating system failures, infrastructure damage and delayed recovery efforts.

Community readiness

Local governments across the Mon Valley say preparation has shifted into high gear.

In Charleroi, preparations escalated Friday morning as forecasts became more certain.

Borough Manager Joe Manning said administrators met with police, fire and public works departments to review plans as the storm nears.

“We met with police, the fire department and public works to go over our preparation ahead of the storm this weekend because it has become pretty obvious that this is no longer speculative,” Manning said.

The borough has received a full load of salt, which Manning said was a relief after delayed deliveries impacted some municipalities during past winter storms.

• A4 Public works crews will be on mandatory overtime for the duration of the storm, and three private, third-party contractors have been secured to assist if road conditions become difficult to manage.

“I don’t think that is something we had ever done in the past, and I actually had someone approach me to talk about their services. They have the proper equipment and are insured, so we decided to keep them on standby in case we need them,” Manning said. “Chief (Robert) Whiten also secured two more third-party companies that we can use if we need to. Our street crew does a great job, but it is a small department.”

As part of the response, 10th and 11th streets will be closed for the duration of the storm until they are deemed safe and passable.

“When snow starts, sometime Saturday, the entirety of 10th and 11th streets will be barricaded,” Manning said. “Those roads are just so ridiculously steep, it was a decision that we thought was best for public safety, for residents and also for crews that will be out.”

Emergency services are also expanding operations. The Charleroi Fire Department is working with public works, the Charleroi Regional Police Department, and Rostraver/ West Newton EMS to ensure residents’ safety during the storm.

Extra staffing is being added to provide 24/7 fire department coverage, and the department’s utility vehicle is fully operational and ready to respond. The fire department will place additional EMS equipment with trained personnel in multiple locations throughout the borough and assist EMS crews with accessing patients if road conditions are poor.

The Charleroi Fire Department will also serve as a warming center for anyone in need. Residents with questions or concerns can contact Chief Robert Whiten Jr. at 724-4837311.

As conditions change, borough officials said updates will be shared through the Savvy Citizen app and Charleroi Borough social media.

Manning said borough leaders are looking beyond the snowfall itself.

“With frigid temperature coming in right behind this storm, it could add to problems because that means the snow is not going anywhere,” Manning said. “I am also slightly concerned about the weight of that much snow on some of the dilapidated buildings we have in town. We are looking at a few scenarios where we could see partial collapse or damage. Not to mention pipes freezing, lines bursting.

“We are looking at a week or maybe even longer of potential problems that will follow this storm, but we are trying to be as proactive as we can and coordinate together to make sure we are as ready as we can be.”

Officials in Roscoe are urging residents to help crews clear roads faster and improve safety during the storm.

Residents are asked to remove vehicles from streets and park in driveways or coordinate with neighbors, especially on streets with parking on both sides. Officials also asked residents to leave extra room at intersections so plow trucks can safely make turns.

Borough leaders advised residents not to rush sidewalk clearing in areas where plows may pass again, to place shoveled snow in yards rather than back into the roadway, and to clear snow from fire hydrants if they are covered.

Officials said hills and the main roadway from Furlong toward the river will be prioritized for plowing and asked residents to check on older neighbors during the storm.

The Elizabeth Township Public Works Department is asking residents to cooperate as crews prepare for long hours of snow removal.

“This storm will produce snowfall rates and temperatures that will not allow us to salt the roads during this storm,” the department said. “However, roads will be plowed opened for the duration of the storm and completely cleaned up when the storm has concluded. All street(s) in Elizabeth Township will be snow covered throughout the storm.

“Roads will be plowed and kept open according to traffic levels. As such, state roads, county roads and hills will be plowed first. Neighborhood roads will be second. Alleyways will be done at the completion of the storm. The crews will be out running shifts during the entire storm, so if your street has not seen a plow in several hours, they will be making their way there eventually. Only absolutely necessary travel should be done on Sunday and Monday to allow us to effectively plow.”

Traffic could be difficult for a few days after the storm.

“Heavy winds during and after the storm will produce drifting snow on higher level streets and roads, so use caution when driving through drifted snow. Bitter cold temperatures are expected for the next several days, so please use caution if traveling. Ice spots can form without warning, so please, lower travel speeds and leave yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination,” the department said. “If steep hills become too dangerous to treat or plow, we will temporarily close them. For your safety, do not go around any barricades you encounter.”

Updates will be posed on the police, public works and township Facebook page.

Rostraver Township Commissioner John Lorenzo said the road department is fully prepared.

“With a significant winter storm expected this weekend — bringing potentially 12–19 inches of snow, primarily on Sunday — the Rostraver Township Road Department is fully prepared and ready to respond,” he said. “We have ample salt, equipment, and manpower in place to handle whatever Mother Nature brings our way. For everyone’s safety, we strongly encourage residents to stay home and off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary or in the event of an emergency. Fewer vehicles on the road allows our road crews to work more efficiently and helps ensure roadways remain accessible for first responders and essential workers.”

The City of Monongahela notified residents that the Monongahela Volunteer Fire Department will serve as a designated warming center in the event of an emergency during the snowstorm.

Those who need the center are asked to call 724-255-7630 prior to coming to the hall.

The City of McKeesport took to social media Friday afternoon to state that city crews are prepared for the storm.

“Public Works crews are scheduled to hit the streets as soon as the snow begins to fall overnight Saturday,” the post reads. “Knowing that winter storms of this magnitude take time to manage, please be patient with our workers. Keep in mind that trucks could be called to specific areas for emergencies, which could delay the regular neighborhood response.

“We appreciate your patience as we work to keep our near-120 miles of city streets safe and clean. Please note that McKeesport’s strategy will be to keep pace with the storm by hitting hills and emergency routes repeatedly and tending to secondary roads intermittently on 10 organized routes. Tertiary roads, such as alleyways, will be handled last.”

Travel, transit and enforcement

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says crews are pre-treating roads and will work around the clock, but warned that roads will not be completely clear during the storm.

“Our crews are hard at work preparing for this weekend’s storm, and we’ll be out in force throughout the event,” Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Please, avoid traveling if you can.”

PennDOT expects snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour during the height of the storm.

Beginning midnight Saturday into Sunday, a Tier 4 vehicle restriction will be implemented on all Pennsylvania interstates, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and select major roadways.

No commercial vehicles, school buses, RVs, motorcycles or vehicles towing trailers will be permitted while restrictions are in place.

PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said restrictions are designed to help crews clear incidents faster and keep workers safe.

“These restrictions aren’t about the quality of the driver,” Compton said. “They’re about the amount of time it takes for us to clear an incident on one of these roadways.”

The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority has activated its Winter Weather Service Delivery Plan, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit says riders should expect detours and delays, especially in hilly areas.

The Pennsylvania State Police say troopers will be fully staffed throughout the storm.

Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of the state police, urges residents to take the storm seriously.

“By all available forecasts, this is a significant winter storm and should be treated as such,” Bivens said. “If you don’t need to be on the roads, please stay home.”

State police remind drivers that snow and ice must be cleared from vehicles, citations can be issued for driving too fast for conditions and motorists must follow Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law. Drivers who slide off the road are urged to remain inside their vehicles until help arrives.

Federal support, infrastructure readiness

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received a mission assignment from FEMA ahead of the storm and is pre-positioning assets, including generators, to support temporary emergency power needs.

Teams from the Pittsburgh, Savannah, Memphis and Tulsa districts are responding, with additional support from across the Corps enterprise.

Officials encourage residents to monitor local updates and follow guidance from authorities.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is urging consumers across the state to prepare for the storm.

Forecasts also indicate that extreme cold is likely to persist through next week, which could increase energy demand and place additional stress on power generation resources, the electric grid and natural gas systems.

The PUC is maintaining enhanced communication with jurisdictional electric and natural gas utilities across Pennsylvania and monitoring the preparations and actions of PJM Interconnection, the regional electric grid operator, to ensure readiness as the storm approaches and conditions evolve.

“Winter Storm Fern is expected to deliver both snowfall and extremely cold air, followed by a prolonged period of bitterly cold temperatures next week,” PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank said. “This combination can place added strain on energy systems, which is why the Commission is in close and ongoing communication with utilities and PJM. While no specific actions are being requested of consumers at this time, preparation and awareness ahead of the storm are important as conditions develop.”

State officials urge preparation

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency for the entire state on Friday, basically giving PennDOT, PEMA, and state police the green light to move faster, pool resources sooner and cut through the usual red tape before things get messy.

The message is simple: prepare now, don’t be a hero on the roads if you don’t have to and expect restrictions and rapid response as the storm rolls in.

Randy Padfield, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, emphasized that preparation before the storm begins can prevent emergencies later.

“The best time to protect yourself and your family is before the snow begins,” Padfield said. “We encourage everyone to check the forecast often, adjust travel plans if needed, and to stock up on basic supplies like food, water, and medications, and make sure phones are charged and emergency kits are ready.”

Padfield said state teams have been coordinating with counties, local governments and federal partners for several days and have activated the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center, with plans to transition to 24/7 operations through the storm and the days that follow.

He warned that winter storms often bring secondary dangers.

“The sad fact is that despite our best attempts, this storm will most likely result in tragedy somewhere in the Commonwealth,” Padfield said, citing risks such as vehicle crashes, carbon monoxide poisoning from improper heating sources or generator use, increased structure fires and stress on heating systems during prolonged cold.

He urges residents to remain vigilant, monitor trusted media sources and assist neighbors when possible.

For more information on safe winter travel, emergency preparedness and road conditions go to PennDOT. pa.gov/winter, PennDOT.pa.gov/ safety, 511PA.com or the 511PA mobile app.

Schools

Charleroi Area School District announced Friday that it will be transitioning to a remote learning day Monday due to the anticipated inclement weather.

South Allegheny School District will have an asynchronous learning day Monday and a two-hour delay Tuesday. Depending on the weather, Tuesday could turn out to be a full cancellation.

In a statement, Monessen School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte said they anticipate at least two closure days, with the potential of more depending on the weather. Monessen did not officially announce closures for next week, but recommends that families frequently check for updates.