Winter Storm To Slam Pittsburgh: See Latest Snowfall Estimates

PITTSBURGH, PA — A prolonged and dangerous winter storm is headed for Pittsburgh this weekend, and it could dump the most snow that Western Pennsylvania has seen in years.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch in effect for the Pittsburgh metro area and Southwestern Pennsylvania from 7 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Monday. The agency has identified two possible storm scenarios for the region and neither are pleasant.

In the southern track, the storm forms to the south and then curves north as it heads toward the Mid-Atlantic region. With this track, accumulations of up to six inches are possible. The probability of this scenario is around 25 percent.

The second scenario is even more unpleasant and the odds of it occurring are pegged at 75 percent. Under this scenario, the storm forms to the south and then curves up the spine of the Appalachians before reforming off the coast. The region would see some of the heaviest snow from the storm with accumulations ranging from six to 15 inches and even higher accumulations possible in the mountains.

The weather service is warning that travel during the storm will be difficult to nearly impossible.

"If you have any travel plans, now is the time to think about contingency plans," the weather service advised on a series of posts on X.

"If you plan on staying inside, make sure you have emergency supplies (food, batteries, water, portable chargers...) in your home and/or car, charged and accessible. Check your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.

"Replenish fuel for your car and heating sources. Remember that you can lose power in a storm, so if you have electric heating, make sure you have alternative plans to stay warm (whether that be blankets, a fireplace, or a generator."

Here's what other weather forecasters are predicting for the weekend:

• The latest projections from The Weather Channel: Three to five inches Saturday night, five to eight inches on Sunday and one to three inches on Sunday night. That puts the total accumulation projections between nine and 16 inches.

• State College-based AccuWeather's projections are not as severe. AccuWeather calls for the storm totals between Saturday night and early Monday at between six to 10 inches.

Once the storm passes, the snow will not be melting. The weather service is predicting a prolonged period of cold temperatures next week, with highs only in the teens.