Fryzing Rain, Snow, Ice predicted Saturday for Laurel Highlands Ridges; Travel restrictions scheduled

Roads in the eastern parts of Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties could become treacherous on Saturday afternoon when the National Weather Service predicts that the area will be hit by freezing rain and possible snow.

Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office has issued a winter weather advice for this area and for several counties north of Pittsburgh, which calls for up to 1 empty snow and up to two tenths empty Isaccumulation between 10.00 and 17.00. 13 Saturday and at. 1 Sunday.

As the weather system moves from south to north, the Laurel Ridge area can expect to see freezing rain before it reaches the Interstate 80 corridor, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Shannon Hefferan.

The system could reach the combs of Laurel Highlands as early as late Saturday morning, she said.

“There will be an impact on the journey tomorrow,” Hefferan said Friday night.

Priming conditions for freezing rain and ice, she said, will be temperatures in the top 20s at dawn on Saturday.

The same area of ​​Westmoreland County was pummeted with an ice cream storm in the afternoon on Groundhog Day and stranded dozens of vehicles on a section of Route 271 in Fairfield Township. During this storm, a gray dog ​​went from the road and wounded two residents.

Penndot and Pennsylvania Turnpike -Employees take precautions at the forefront of the free weather front.

While planning to pre -treat roads, they have issued travel restrictions for more larger routes:

Tier 2 limits will take effect at. 15 Saturday the:

• Interstate 70 and Interstate 81 from Pennsylvania Turnpike to Maryland border;

• Pennsylvania Turnpike, from the new Stanton output to the Breezewood exit;

• I-99 for its full length.

According to Level 2 guidelines, motorcycles, trailers, RVs, oversized loads, truck tractors, empty trucks, buses and tractors drawn loaded tandem trailers without chains are not allowed on the affected roads.

Level 1 limits apply to all the same vehicles, except that buses are allowed with chains and loaded tandem trailers do not require chains.

These limitations begin at 1 p.m. 19.00 Saturday on I-81 from Clark Summit to the New York border.