A BLAST OF SNOW AND WINTERY WEATHER TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY SHUTTERED MOST AREA SCHOOLS AND CREATED HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS FOR AREA MOTORISTS.
A blast of snow and wintery weather Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday shuttered most area schools and created hazardous road conditions for area motorists.
The snowfall began shortly after noon Tuesday and accumulated between five and 10 inches in various parts of Fayette County.
Susan Griffith, public relations director for Fayette County Emergency Management Agency, said that Fayette County 911 was busy throughout the snowstorm with reports of minor accidents and stranded motorists beginning around 2 p.m. Tuesday when the snow began to fall, making the evening commute treacherous for many.
She said that as of 8 a.m. Wednesday the 911 center had fielded more than 30 vehicle accidents and several reports of disabled vehicles.
“Road crews worked diligently and were often summoned to the accident scenes to assist in clearing the roadway,” Griffith said.
“Many fire departments limited the number of responding units as not to congest the roadways further, enabling the road crews to treat the area and also to avoid putting their volunteers and equipment at risk,” Griffith said.
Continued snowfall Wednesday kept crews from the state Department of Transportation and local municipalities busy treating and clearing area roads.
The state Turnpike Commission closed down some portions of the turnpike, including a stretch near New Stanton, to tractor-trailer traffic to help abate problems with blowing and drifting snow while crews worked to keep the thoroughfare clear.
Griffith said that county EMA officials used new means of communication with the public and other first responders, including social networking Websites like Facebook and Twitter, during the storm creating a greater understanding of the scope of the storm.
“We are fortunate to have these avenues that not only reach the public but also many emergency responders that follow those sites,” Griffith said.
The blast of snowy weather also forced many school districts across the area to cancel classes Wednesday, including Albert Gallatin, Brownsville Area, California Area, Connellsville Area, Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School, Frazier, Geibel, Laurel Highlands, Southeastern Greene and Uniontown Area.
A winter weather advisory remained in effect for Fayette County and the surrounding areas most of Wednesday.
County EMA officials cautioned motorists that while snow showers are expected to diminish, the potential for blowing and drifting snow on roads still exists in coming days.