Drivers in NE Ohio, NW Pennsylvania advised to prepare for wintery roads

If your travel plans include the northern part of the 21 WFMJ viewing area, you might want to prepare for winter driving.

According to Storm Tracker 21, although there could be a few lake-effect snow flurries, most of Monday's snow will remain up north. There will be a greater chance of impact from snowfall early Tuesday.

A band of snow will drop southwards through the Valley Tuesday morning. The band will weaken as it moves south, eventually just leading to some leftover flurries in Columbiana County. The highest snowfall accumulations will be in northern Trumbull and Mercer counties, where 3-6 inches of snow are currently forecast. Over an inch of snow will be possible as far south as Rt. 224.

With periods of heavy snow in the forecast for portions of northwest Pennsylvania, PennDOT is reminding drivers to slow down, pay attention, and use caution on area roadways, especially during snow squalls or low-visibility conditions that may occur.

“Our crews, particularly in Erie, Crawford, and Warren counties, are cued up and the equipment is ready to hit the road whenever the storm approaches,” said Aaron Fox, Assistant District Executive – Maintenance for District 1. “Though we manage our plow routes based on county lines, we approach winter as a region. This means our operators and plow trucks can be easily shifted to help in what are traditionally the snowiest areas, like Interstate 90, or wherever the need may develop as the weather changes.”

Crews will work in 12-hour shifts to maintain the roads and equipment as long as the storm lasts.

"What we just ask from folks is to be prepared," explained Ray Marsch, Spokesperson for ODOT. "Earlier today, we were pretreating. We were putting salt and brine on the roadways. We were making sure all of our bridges, entrance, exit ramps, and all of those key spots were getting hit in preparation for the snow to fall here."

ODOT crews have had 230 plows prepping North East Ohio roads as the wet grounds eased for pretreating. As you prep for the flurry forecast, ODOT reminds you to be cautious of cars around you, especially ODOT plows working on the roads. 26 plow trucks were struck last winter, down from 61 the previous winter.  

"It makes their job so much easier when folks aren't tailgating and getting very close to our plows," Marsch added. "It allows them to concentrate more efficiently on the road."

While PennDOT says avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, if motorists must travel here are some tips if they encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow:?

• Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.
• Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
• Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
• Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible, and be patient.
• Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
• Use your defroster and wipers.
• Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
• During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
• Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
• Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
• Always buckle up and never drive impaired.?
• If a crash occurs due to or during a snow squall and you are involved or stopped due to the crash:
• In most cases, you are safer in your vehicle with seat belts fastened.
• If possible, drive slowly to the front of the pileup and get off the travel lanes.
• If you must leave your car in an emergency, try to wait until it looks safe.
• Do not stand outside your vehicle on or near the roadway.

Stay up to date on the Valley's weather forecast going into Tuesday with our 21 Storm Tracker team.