Lake effect snow forecasted for Trumbull and Mercer counties

MERCER, Pennsylvania - Paul Glenn of Mercer is filling up gas tanks for his plow for the first time this winter.

"It was good this year," said Glenn. "I could've lasted until March, would've made me happy. But that's the way it is I guess."

The mild December means PENNDOT in Mercer still has plenty of material on hand.

"We do have full inventory, all of our salt is good," said Andy Boland, Assistant Manager at PENNDOT Mercer. "We also use the brine, just salt and water. We're ready to go, we have full resources due to the good winter for us, great winter for us."

It began as flurries off and on throughout Mercer and Trumbull counties, with lake effect warnings for tonight.

"It's a really big lake effect event," explained Justin Chesnic of ODOT District 4. "North into Ashtabula County and northern Trumbull County you could get some more in those persistent snow bands anywhere from a foot, foot and a half to two feet of snow."

Road crews will be working 24 hours until the snow stops. Crews in Mercer have been putting down anti-icing brine mixture of salt and water since Sunday night to keep the snow from bonding with the road.

That will continue until the snow begins to accumulate, then trucks will switch over to plowing.

Lake effect snow warnings are in effect until early Tuesday.