Pittsburgh Prepares for Significant Winter Storm This Weekend

By The Pittsburgh Public Press • Published: January 2026

City officials are preparing for a significant winter storm expected to impact the Pittsburgh region beginning Saturday night and continuing through Monday, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Allegheny County and surrounding areas, effective from 7 p.m. Saturday through noon Monday. Current forecasts project 8 to 14 inches of snow, with the heaviest snowfall likely occurring Sunday morning. Forecasters caution that exact totals may vary depending on storm track and temperature fluctuations.

If realized, the storm could rank among the region's more substantial snow events of the past decade, though it is not expected to approach the historic snowfall totals recorded during the February 2010 storms.

City Operations and Preparedness

Mayor Corey O'Connor, who assumed office earlier this month, said the city has moved into an elevated preparedness posture. On Friday, the administration announced the activation of a centralized snow response operation based at the City-County Building, intended to coordinate public works, emergency management, and communications during the storm.

"Our focus is on maintaining essential services and public safety," O'Connor said. "Crews are staged, equipment is prepared, and we will adjust operations as conditions change."

According to the Department of Public Works (DPW), the city's snow response includes:

• Fleet availability: Approximately 75 multi-purpose plow-and-salt trucks are ready for deployment, along with 19 additional single-function vehicles.
• Supplemental equipment: Pickup trucks from Environmental Services will be fitted with plows after Saturday refuse collection concludes. As a result, Monday trash collection has been canceled.
• Salt inventory: The city reports roughly 8,000 tons of road salt on hand, with additional deliveries scheduled.
• Maintenance coverage: DPW's maintenance facility will operate continuously from Saturday morning through Tuesday evening to address mechanical failures as they occur.

City officials note that snow-clearing efforts will prioritize arterial roads, emergency routes, hills, bridges, and bus corridors before moving to residential streets.

Transit, Utilities, and Infrastructure

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) has advised riders to expect service disruptions if snowfall rates exceed plowing capacity, particularly in steep or narrow neighborhoods. Bus routes may be restricted to primary roads, and detours or suspensions are possible depending on conditions.

Light rail operations are expected to continue, weather permitting, though officials caution that service adjustments may be necessary if ice or drifting snow interferes with power or track access.

Duquesne Light Company has placed crews on standby. While the snow is forecast to be relatively dry, strong winds and very cold temperatures could increase the likelihood of isolated power outages and downed lines. Residents are encouraged to prepare for prolonged cold, with overnight temperatures forecast near 0°F and wind chills potentially below −10°F.

Public Safety Guidance

Emergency officials are asking residents to assist snow-clearing efforts by:

• Avoiding on-street parking when possible to allow plows full access
• Limiting non-essential travel during periods of heavy snowfall
• Clearing sidewalks promptly, particularly near fire hydrants and bus stops

The city's volunteer-based Snow Angels program remains active to assist elderly and disabled residents with snow removal, though officials emphasize that demand may exceed capacity during prolonged storms.

Warming Centers and Shelters

For residents needing to stay warm, the city and county have opened warming centers and shelters. Find a list of locations and hours here.

Pittsburgh's Experience With Major Snowfall

Pittsburgh has a long history of managing large snow events, most notably during the February 2010 storms, when back-to-back systems dropped more than 50 inches of snow over several weeks. Those storms exposed challenges related to fleet size, street width, hillside neighborhoods, and limited snow storage capacity.

In the years since, the city has adjusted its approach by refining route prioritization, expanding contractor use during prolonged events, and increasing coordination with county and state agencies. However, officials acknowledge that Pittsburgh's topography—including steep grades, dead-end streets, and dense residential areas—continues to complicate snow removal during high-accumulation storms.

Historically, city leaders have emphasized that residential streets may remain snow-covered for extended periods during major events, particularly when snowfall rates exceed one inch per hour or when temperatures limit salt effectiveness.

Outlook

Snow is expected to begin Saturday evening, intensify Sunday morning, and taper off by early Monday. City officials say conditions will be monitored continuously, and additional measures—including the possible declaration of a local disaster emergency—remain available if the storm exceeds current response capacity.

Residents are encouraged to follow official city and weather service updates as forecasts are refined.