Pittsburgh Winter Storm Coming, Significant Snowfall Likely

PITTSBURGH, PA — White likely will attempt to overtake green as the prevalent color during Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade. A late winter storm could drop as much as a half-foot of snow in the city.

The National Weather Service says widespread accumulating snow is expected late Friday night through Saturday after a transition from rain. The weather service says there currently is an 84 percent probability that Pittsburgh will receive more than 4 inches of snow.

State College-based AccuWeather predicts the storm will leave 3 to 6 inches of snow. AccuWeather also warns that winds of up to 50 mph will bring blowing snow, reduced visibility and localized power outages to the region.

The Weather Channel thus far is sticking with its original forecast issued earlier in the week of 1 to 3 inches.

Winter storm watches already are in effect for the ridges east of the city, where as much as 7 inches of snow and near-blizzard like conditions could occur in eastern Westmoreland County and other nearby areas.

The weather service says additional watches and warnings are likely as the storm moves closer.

The storm could impact the parade, one of the country's largest St. Patrick's Day events with more than 200 marching units, bands and floats. The event usually attracts between 200,000 to 350,000 spectators.

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