End of Winter Storm Jonas brings record snowfall, excessive cleanup
Snowplows and backhoes work to clear the lot at the Uniontown Shopping Center on Morgantown Street, an hour before the National Weather Service called off the winter storm warning for Saturday night.
Grace Busby, 9, tackles her brother Alec, 12, as they build a snow tunnel complex outside their home on Oakland Avenue in Uniontown on Saturday. Alec lamented that all the snow fell on a weekend when there was no school.
A Ford F-150 drives up a still-white Route 40 at Cooper Tires on Saturday. Plows could not keep ahead of the snow, which continued falling heavily well into the afternoon.
Johnathan Manko digs out his driveway in Carroll Township.
Mary Schettler clears a path to free her car in Monongahela on Saturday.
The wrath of Winter Storm Jonas may have finally concluded, but effects of the crippling snowfall will be felt for several days as cleanup efforts continue.
According to unofficial snowfall reports at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, Mill Run reported the most accumulation with 30 inches snow. As of early Saturday afternoon, NWS unofficially reported 24.5 inches in Farmington, 24 inches in Uniontown and South Connellsville, 21 in McClellandtown and Normalville, and 20 inches in Perryopolis and Masontown. In Greene County, Waynesburg saw 10 inches while Dilliner and Graysville saw 16 and 11 inches respectively.
Unofficial reports from the NWS for the Mon Valley indicated accumulations of 15 inches in Donora, 14 inches in Charleroi, 20 inches in Mount Pleasant, 28 inches in Champion and 16 inches in Scottdale.
The winter storm warning expired in the early morning hours Sunday. According to Brad Rehak, a forecaster with the NWS, Sunday will finally see partly sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 20s. Though Monday’s temperature will rise to about 42 degrees with more partly sunny skies, Rehak said flooding won’t be a concern, as snow will gradually melt with similar weather.
“As long as it doesn’t get too warm during the day, we won’t have to worry about flooding,” he said.
There is a potential for brief periods of rain on Monday night, however, that could cause some icy travel conditions as temperatures drop. Rehak said it’s something to keep an eye on as the days progress.
On Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm, saying it would allow the state to get resources where they need to be more quickly.
“We all know we cannot control the weather, but we can be prepared for whatever the weather brings us,” the governor said.
On Saturday afternoon, Wolf said the commonwealth “is in as good a state as can be expected.” But he warned people to stay off the roads.
“Across the commonwealth, major progress is being made and state officials and first responders are out on the roads clearing snow and ensuring the safety of all people,” according to a statement from Wolf’s office on Saturday. “Additionally, the total number of power outages for the state is currently at 1,406, which are down from 4,434 at 1 p.m. earlier today.”
The Pennsylvania National Guard was even deployed to assist stranded motorists in neighboring Somerset County. According to Carl Defebo Jr. with the PA Turnpike, several tractor trailers jackknifed on the eastern slope of the mountain approaching the Allegheny Tunnel around milepost 123 between the Somerset and Bedford exits around 8:30 Friday night.
“Emergency crews have been walking through the backlog of traffic to attend to any medical situations and bring fuel and rations to some drivers,” according to a press release from the PA Turnpike spokesman.
Vehicles were backed up, preventing emergency crews from getting heavy-duty trucks to the scene and the road crews from being able to clear the snow, according to officials in Wolf’s office.
Sections of the PA Turnpike between the Breezewood and New Stanton interchanges were also closed in both directions for a period of time on Saturday due to the intensity of the storm.
Despite the fact that many businesses and roadways were closed or inaccessible over the weekend, students at California University of Pennsylvania were able to enjoy their “home away from home.”
According to the university’s director of public relations Christine Kindl, the residence halls and food services remained opened and available to all students.
“When wintry weather is forecasted, we make plans to keep essential services running,” she said, adding that they get regular forecasts from their meteorology department, as well as the NWS and Washington County 911. “Our goal is to keep everyone safe and comfortable, even through a snowstorm!”
The grounds crews worked all night to clear walkways and parking areas to ensure that students and staff could get around safely, she said.
Two businesses in Connellsville also saw to it that local fire and police companies were provided for during the storm.
Management with Brooke’s Block Party and Waive & Janes Emporium decided to donate hot turkey dinners with all the trimmings, and a dessert, to local emergency personnel.
“Brooke Deason with Brooke’s Block Party called and said we could send baked goods to the firemen and town, and I though it was a good idea,” said Jeff Wallace, co-owner of Waive & Janes Emporium. They then decided to use the store’s specialty Amish food to prepare the meals. “We just wanted to thank everybody.”
In Fayette and Greene counties, mail delivery was delayed, though no area specific closings or suspensions were posted on the United States Postal Service website.
“Winter Storm Jonas may pose some challenges that could impact postal operations in Southern, Eastern and Northern regions,” according to an alert on their website. “As a results, customers can expect suspended/impacted retail and delivery operations in the previous mentioned regions. As always, we will make every attempt to provide service where it is safe to do so.”
As traveling concerns became an issue for church goers, Bishop Edward C. Malesic released a statement Saturday that “relaxed the obligation of Catholics to attend Mass within the Diocese of Greensburg” today.
“It is anticipated that every Mass will be held as scheduled, so long as a priest is able to travel to the church where it is to be celebrated,” Malesic, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg that includes Fayette County, said in the statement.
“No one can dispense from the Divine Law that requires us to keep Holy the Lord’s Day. However, individuals may, for a number of legitimate reasons, find themselves unable to fulfill the obligation to attend Sunday Mass,” it continued, referring to those who are sick, elderly or otherwise incapacitated.
Malesic noted that those who determine that travel to Mass is not advisable today are to spend time in prayer and scripture.
Traveling difficulties were also a concern for staff at the Monongahela Valley Hospital. But their vice president of marketing and community relations Corinne Laboon said the staff was “creative” in solving the problem.
“As always, there were employees who weren’t able to get to work because of road conditions, but we were very creative here and worked together as a team to make sure our patients were taken care of,” Laboon said.
“We made sure we didn’t have any disruptions in providing patient care,” she added.
Laboon said the hospital did not receive any admissions for vehicle accidents or individuals with symptoms due to overexerting themselves during snow shoveling. They did, however, have a handful of patients with weather-related falls.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.