The National Weather Service is warning that Southwestern Pennsylvania could get a snowfall of between 8 and 15 inches.
The NWS Pittsburgh office in Moon issued a winter storm watch, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday and continuing through 1 p.m. Monday, meteorologist Colton Milcarek said.
Bill Modzelewski, another weather service meteorologist, said he expects the snowstorm to be more significant than others seen in the region in recent years.
The last time the Pittsburgh area experienced 9 inches of snowfall, for example, was in December 2020, he said. Pittsburgh hasn’t been pummeled with 10 inches or more since February 2010.
“These amounts are not rare, but we don’t see them all that often,” Modzelewski said.
The first flurries could begin around 7 p.m. Saturday, with snowfall hitting the majority of the region overnight Saturday into Sunday, Milcarek said.
Cold temperatures will exacerbate winter weather challenges. People need to be aware of frostbite when outside shoveling snow, he said, and the salt that road crews drop to melt snow is less effective in colder conditions.
The coldest temperatures of the weekend are forecast for Saturday, Milcarek said — ranging from near 0 degrees to just the mid-single digits. Temperatures Sunday will likely be in the mid-20s.
A cold weather advisory has been issued for areas north of Allegheny County, Milcarek said.
More on the coming storm
• Crews brace for snow, PennDOT sets priority routes for weekend storm• Late salt deliveries could hamper storm response in some towns
Temperatures are expected to remain frigid for the rest of the month. January, on average, sees a high of 36 degrees and low of 21 degrees, but the next few weeks could see temperatures 20 degrees lower than those figures, he said.
For next week, a high of 17 degrees is forecast for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with a high of 22 degrees expected for Wednesday.
Lows are forecasted at 13 degrees on Monday, -1 degree on Tuesday, 9 degrees on Wednesday and 6 degrees on Thursday, Milcarek said.
Temperatures have not yet been forecasted for Jan. 30 and 31, he said.
In a social media post, the weather service said people should start preparing for the possible winter storm. They urged anyone with travel plans over the weekend to begin thinking of contingencies. And people staying inside should stock up on emergency supplies, such as food, batteries, water and portable chargers.
Officials also encouraged people to check smoke detectors and top off fuel for cars and heating sources. Anyone with electric heating should have alternate plans to stay warm in case they lose power.
The snowstorm follows a frigid week that saw wind chills plunge to subzero temperatures Tuesday. It was cold enough earlier in the week for an ice blockage to threaten operations at a Pittsburgh Water treatment plant.
(1/12) "What's the forecast for this weekend?" If you recall from yesterday, we had a discussion about long range snowfall forecasting. We discussed the closer you get to an event, the more we can narrow down the amount of potential scenarios that may play out.... https://t.co/HQ3c8rQvaB pic.twitter.com/r5g5FQacBa
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) January 21, 2026
