Ready to roll: Area road crews prepared for winter鈥檚 wallops
Whatever the winter may bring in terms of snowfall, North Strabane Township has more than enough salt to get through the season.
In fact, there is still plenty left over from last year.
鈥淥ur bins are packed full. We couldn鈥檛 put in another five-gallon bucket,鈥� said Tom Lovell, North Strabane鈥檚 director of public works. 鈥淲e ordered probably 500 tons less because of what we had from last year.鈥�
John Darnley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, explained that snowfall last year was well below average, and we may see a similar outcome this year.
The 2023-24 winter season saw about 16 inches of snowfall, according to Darnley, while the NWS Pittsburgh average is 42.5 inches.
鈥淭he past couple years we haven鈥檛 really had those bigger events. We had two inches here, an inch there, a dusting,鈥� Darnley said.
According to Darnley, there is about a 33% chance that temperatures will be higher this winter, and similar odds for a higher-than-average precipitation.
鈥淭hat could lead to some snow,鈥� Darnley said.
Overall, Darnley said the NWS is anticipating at least three weather events that deliver about four to six inches of snow to the region over the course of the winter.
When the snow does fall, the state Department of Transportation and local road crews will be out keeping them safe for drivers. PennDOT spokesperson Laina Aquiline said the agency is prepared.
鈥淚n terms of materials, equipment and staffing, we are at full capacity and ready to roll,鈥� Aquiline said.
The budget for PennDOT鈥檚 District 12, which covers Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties, is $16.1 million. There will be 60 plow trucks in Washington County, 42 in Fayette and 28 in Greene.
Drivers can keep tabs on the status of state-owned roads and PennDOT vehicles through 511PA.com.
With snowfall expected over the next few days, crews are already preparing to get on the roads.
鈥淲e put on our salt spreaders yesterday anticipating something (Thursday) into Friday. Although I鈥檓 not expecting a whole lot, we certainly want to be prepared in case something does happen,鈥� Lovell said.
According to Lovell, there is some overlap with leaf collection season and winter, so some trucks are still outfitted with leaf-sucking equipment. However, Lovell said those trucks can be turned around for plowing pretty quickly.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty much ready. Whenever it comes, the plows have been pulled out of storage,鈥� Lovell said. 鈥淭he guys are ready to go.鈥�