Rick Menkel, outdoor power equipment specialist with Lowe’s home improvment store in South Union Township, places the last pallet of ice-melting chemicals near the store’s exit Tuesday. Robert Esquivel/Herald-Standard

Just as some semblance of normalcy was beginning to take place in the area, Mother Nature again delivered a second snowstorm with the promise of an additional three to eight inches before it would be all said and done.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Rehak said that up to three inches of snow would fall overnight with snow showers along with gusty winds forecast for today.

"Approximately two to four inches are forecasted for Wednesday with temperatures in the 20s," he said.

Emergency call centers in Fayette, Washington and Greene counties reported late Tuesday that the regions were relatively quiet with some minor accidents reported throughout the afternoon and evening hours.

Area schools that were closed Monday after the weekend snowstorm and Tuesday in anticipation of the looming bad weather, began issuing notices that students would have another day off shortly after the snow began to fall.

By presstime, dozens of schools had taken measures to alert students and staff of the closures.

California University of Pennsylvania officials opted to also keep there doors closed until Saturday because of power outages and water pressure problems in California and the forecast that called for another foot of snow.

Cal U spokeswoman Christine Kindl said the six of 10 residence halls at Vulcan Village, an off-campus student housing complex were affected by a power outage, with service anticipated to be restored by Saturday.

Students have been advised to return home, if possible.

"Quite a number did go home," said Kindl.

Displaced students and borough residents can seek emergency shelter at the Natali Student Center, where food services are available. Showers will be available in Herron Hall Recreation and Fitness Center and round-trip shuttle service will continue to be provided from the student center to the fitness center every 10 minutes.

The university's Southpointe Center in Canonsburg is also closed until Saturday, with only essential university personnel asked to report to either location.

PennDOT crews were ready for the second round, but warned drivers that although accumulations were to be less than what fell over the weekend, this storm would include high winds that could cause poor visibility and snow-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," said PennDOT Secretary for Highway administration engineer Scott Christie.

Motorists are advised that if they encounter a white-out to move as far off the roadway as possible and come to a safe stop.

Approximately 2,220 plow trucks will be in service to keep roads passable during the snowstorm.

According to Christie, interstates and other high-volume expressways were treated first during winter storms.

Secondary state routes are a lower priority, and during severe winter storms, deeper accumulations will occur on these roadways.

The department's primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow, he added.

The transportation department has 600,000 tons of salt available across the commonwealth for winter maintenance.

Motorists are advised to travel at a safe distance from a plow truck and not to pass the vehicle when it is plowing snow or spreading salt or other winter materials onto the roads.

"I want to applaud those motorists who heeded our warnings last week and stayed off the roads over the weekend," said Christie.

"However, this storm will occur during the week when many motorists will have no choice but to travel, so we're asking them to allow extra time to reach their destinations and be sure that vehicle emergency kits are packed."

American Red Cross, meanwhile, expanded its warming shelter operation to provide help to residents without heat, electric or water supplies.

On Tuesday, shelters were operational at the Bentleyville VFD, Carmichaels and Cumberland Township Fire Hall and Chartiers VFD.

Other Washington County shelters were open at the Bentleyville Borough Building, Burgettstown High School, Ringgold High School, Charleroi, One Pine and Elsworth VFD, Finleyville, Denbo and Elrama fire departments and the Richeyville Fire Co.

The Greene County Emergency Services had established warming centers at the Carmichaels Fire Hall, Greene County Fairgrounds, the Greensboro Fire Hall and at the Point Marion Fire Hall.

In Fayette County, residents without services were welcome to stay at the South Connellsville, Perry Township, Fairchance, Dunbar, Washington Township or Luzerne Township firehalls or the Point Marion American Legion or Ohiopyle Community Center, where shelters were established by the county emergency management.

Although a new storm was spreading across the region, that state Department of Environmental Protection said water service disruptions tied to power outages from the previous snowfall continued to plague water customers in Washington and Greene counties.

On Tuesday, water service had yet to be restored to East Dunkard Water Association customers in its outlying service area and all of Greenesboro Borough, Greene County, customers of the Dunkard Valley Joint Municipal Authority.

Also, Scenery Hill and Richeyville, Washington County, residents were still without water service after the area water supplier, Tri-County Water Authority, suffered a power outage. On Tuesday, the Washington County EMA was working to get the authority a generator to help with water supplies.

Pennsylvania American Water (PAW) customers in the Knob Road area of California, Washington County was being advised to continue to boil water until laboratory tests have been completed.

An earlier advisory for PAW customers in the Aldrich treatment plant system was lifted.

Residents are asked not to call 911 centers to report outages or get updates on the restoration of power.

Those using kerosene heaters as a primary heat source are reminded to do any refueling out of doors with the unit extinguished.

Heaters should be used in a well-ventilated area where a functioning carbon monoxide detector is available. Keep all furniture, clothing and draperies away from the heater. It should be turned off when no one is at home.