Tens of thousands of people were still without power across the state Monday as yet another winter storm bore down on the snow-weary region.
Power companies in western Pennsylvania struggled with snow-covered roads as they tried to restore electricity to customers – some of whom were entering their third day without power.
Meanwhile, forecasters predict another major storm will roll into the mid-Atlantic today.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for southwestern Pennsylvania from 10 a.m. today until
7 p.m. Wednesday.
Snow will spread into west-central Pennsylvania by early afternoon, the weather service said, and snow will continue tonight and into Wednesday.
Total snowfall accumulations are expected to average between 8 and 10 inches, the weather service said.
As a secondary area of low pressure develops along the mid-Atlantic coast Wednesday morning, northwest winds will increase and produce area of blowing and drifting snow in this region Wednesday afternoon and evening.
PennDOT urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel after the storm hits, and said those who must travel should expect delays.
The state’s deputy secretary for highway administration, Scott Christie, warned motor-ists that although snow accumulations are not expected to approach the amounts seen during the weekend, high winds expected to accompany the latest storm will create the potential for near-zero-visibility and major drifting.
“The reality is that motorists who must travel Tuesday night and during the day on Wednesday will face conditions possibly worse than those seen over the weekend due to the strong, gusty winds currently forecast,” Christie said.
In western Pennsylvania, residents were still trying to dig out Monday from under a heavy snowfall that brought down trees and knocked out power to more than 275,000 customers at the height of the storm, prompting Allegheny County to open warming centers as refuges for people without heat.
About 65,000 Allegheny Power customers and 4,300 Duquesne Light customers were still without power Monday.
City parking
Johnstown is enforcing its previously imposed parking restrictions to allow for plowing and snow removal:
• Parking prohibited on even-address side of all city streets Wednesday and Friday.
• Parking prohibited on odd-address side of streets today and Thursday.
• Violating the restrictions may result in vehicles being towed at owner’s expense.
