Winter Storm Could Cause Christmas Travel Hazards In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA — Mother Nature appears to be doing her best to ensure Western Pennsylvania enjoys a white Christmas this weekend, but perilous travel hazards are possible along with the scenic holiday view.

A powerful winter storm on the way are keeping the odds of a white Christmas in Pittsburgh "still very much in play," the National Weather Service stated via Twitter Monday morning. While it's too soon to predict how much snow might fall later this week, the storm is expected to move through the area Thursday and into Friday.

State College-based AccuWeather is calling for accumulating snow in the Pittsburgh area Thursday into Friday, followed by "what could be one of the most intense and prolonged periods of Arctic air in decades during Christmastime. The plummeting temperatures with the storm

could also lead to concerns of a rapid freeze-up."

AccuWeather predicts travel conditions will be poor for all of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Virginia. The risk of travel delays will be high in Philadelphia, Boston, New York City and Detroit.

Behind the storm, frigid temperatures will keep any snow that does fall from melting. High temperatures are not expected to make it out of the teens on Christmas Eve this Saturday and Christmas Day on Sunday.