Currently 7 pm

So a little under two weeks ago a little groundhog popped out and saw did not see his shadow. So we were supposed to have an “early spring”. Unfortunately Phil got this one wrong at least at the moment. Winter is in full force this evening across the Northeastern United State. Here in the Pittsburgh area we saw earlier a change over from snow to sleet and now to freezing rain and then will be going back to sleet then snow. The snowfall here in Allegheny County is up to about 7”. When I walked outside we have about a quarter of inch of ice on top of the snow. This could cause some really big havoc and it seems to be affecting the public transit system
here in the southern half of Allegheny County. The mayor of Pittsburgh has even asked people to stay home if possible. The city council is delayed at least an hour on Wednesday morning.

The freezing rain is primary over Allegheny County and south. Significant ice is occurring which could, very well mean, that a people around the regions could lose power because of the ice weight on the lines and trees that could fall on them.

Source: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0163.html

To the north of Allegheny County heavy snowfall will happen and is already occurring.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0161.html

Now I have heard no discussion of this snowfall spreading southward into the Pittsburgh area as the transition from mix back to snow occurs. That could make everything very interesting.

The second half of the system will be coming over the next few hours; this second half will be when numerous things happen.

First the transition of the mixed precipitation changes back to snow, heavy at time.

Second when the Low off the eastern seaboard takes over and we begin to see wrap around precipitation. I the 1 am forecast surface map, pay attention to that low over South Carolina.

We see that on the next forecasted surface map at 1 pm the low off the coast takes the primary role.

After that the winds will become a very critical player even before this transition takes place. The winds will gusting above 40 mph overnight and into Wednesday. The temperature will also drop behind the system. When we could feel windchills below zero as early as mid day Wednesday. We could still see an addition 4 - 6 inches of snowfall before tomorrow evening.