NOAA Pittsburgh International Airport averages 44.1 inches of snow a season (1991–2020 normals)NOAA January is the snowiest month at 13.3 inches; February averages 11.7NOAA About 14.5 days a year bring 1 inch of snow or moreNOAA Normal January low: 21.4°FNOAA About 97 freeze-thaw cycles a year at Pittsburgh International AirportNOAA Median first measurable snow at the airport: November 15 (29 seasons of daily records)NWS Pittsburgh Earliest 1-inch snow on record: October 18, 1972 (1.8 inches)City of Pittsburgh Sidewalks cleared within 24 hours after snow, sleet or freezing rain (Code §419.03)City of Pittsburgh General penalty: up to $300 plus costs per offense; each day is a separate offense (§101.09)City of Pittsburgh Snow emergency: no parking on marked routes starting 1 hour after the declarationCity of Pittsburgh Don’t shovel snow into the roadway; in heavy snows, give up a parking space for the pileMt. Lebanon Businesses clear sidewalks within 4 hours, Mon.–Sat., 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; fine $5–$300 a dayMonroeville Sidewalks, driveways and parking lots cleared within 24 hours; $500 per occurrence for snow on a public roadCranberry Township Sidewalks cleared within 48 hours after snowfall or ice endsProMatcher Pittsburgh driveway and sidewalk plow visit: about $37.06 on average ($32.94–$41.18)SIMA Snow and ice customers are retained 93% of the time year over yearNOAA Pittsburgh International Airport averages 44.1 inches of snow a season (1991–2020 normals)NOAA January is the snowiest month at 13.3 inches; February averages 11.7NOAA About 14.5 days a year bring 1 inch of snow or moreNOAA Normal January low: 21.4°FNOAA About 97 freeze-thaw cycles a year at Pittsburgh International AirportNOAA Median first measurable snow at the airport: November 15 (29 seasons of daily records)NWS Pittsburgh Earliest 1-inch snow on record: October 18, 1972 (1.8 inches)City of Pittsburgh Sidewalks cleared within 24 hours after snow, sleet or freezing rain (Code §419.03)City of Pittsburgh General penalty: up to $300 plus costs per offense; each day is a separate offense (§101.09)City of Pittsburgh Snow emergency: no parking on marked routes starting 1 hour after the declarationCity of Pittsburgh Don’t shovel snow into the roadway; in heavy snows, give up a parking space for the pileMt. Lebanon Businesses clear sidewalks within 4 hours, Mon.–Sat., 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; fine $5–$300 a dayMonroeville Sidewalks, driveways and parking lots cleared within 24 hours; $500 per occurrence for snow on a public roadCranberry Township Sidewalks cleared within 48 hours after snowfall or ice endsProMatcher Pittsburgh driveway and sidewalk plow visit: about $37.06 on average ($32.94–$41.18)SIMA Snow and ice customers are retained 93% of the time year over year

Check Before You Go

Hills, bridges and freeze-thaw make Pittsburgh roads change fast. These are the official places to check, and we link every one.

What	Where to check	Source
Road conditions and restrictions	PennDOT's 511PA, Southwestern Region (Pittsburgh) page	511PA (PennDOT)
Forecasts, winter storm watches and warnings	National Weather Service Pittsburgh, weather.gov/pbz	National Weather Service Pittsburgh
Snow-emergency routes and parking	City Code Chapter 531: no parking on marked routes starting 1 hour after the declaration	City of Pittsburgh Code
Where the city plows are	Snow Response Updates: a delayed dashboard of select plows and salt trucks, plus a snow route coverage map	City of Pittsburgh
An icy city street	Once 24 hours have passed after the snow ends, call 412-255-2621 or 311	City of Pittsburgh

Snow Emergencies

When the Mayor declares a snow emergency, parking is banned on marked snow-emergency routes starting 1 hour after the declaration. Cars left there are towed to the City pound.

Move Within 1 Hour

Know whether your street is a marked snow-emergency route, and move the car within 1 hour of the declaration.

Fines & Towing

Up to $25 plus costs, plus towing and storage. Stalling on a route with inadequate tires, fuel or battery can cost up to $35.

Over 1,200 Miles

The city treats over 1,200 miles of streets. Main routes come first, so side streets and hills may wait.

Sources: City of Pittsburgh Code, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, City of Pittsburgh.

Storm-Day Checklist

Salt the Steps

Pittsburgh has more public staircases than any city in the U.S. Residents can request a salt box for public steps through 311.

Keep Snow Out of the Road

The city says don't shovel or move snow into the roadway. In heavy snows, give up a parking space for the pile.

Clear the Driveway End

Ross Township crews won't return for the ridge their plows leave. Clear an extra area on the right side of the driveway entrance.

Sources: City of Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh, Ross Township. Advisories change with each storm; always check 511PA and the National Weather Service before you go.

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Winter Travel Advisories