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Another Wind Chill Advisory Issued For Much Of The Area

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – It was another cold day in Pittsburgh, so cold that ice has started to form on the three rivers and around The Point.

It was warmer this morning than yesterday by about 20 degrees, but it was still below freezing. And that cold air is on its way back in as we're going to drop back down to around zero overnight.

A Wind Chill Advisory has been issued for much of the area starting at 7 p.m. and running through 1 p.m. Saturday.

Another dumping of snow overnight had road crews scrambling to avoid a repeat of Tuesday morning.

And no sooner were things under control and the sun making a guest appearance when the winds that were starching the flags blew in another whiteout, and put road conditions in the inconsistent category.

"I think what happens is when people see the roadway is clear they see the asphalt, the blacktop, they think it's good to go, but then unfortunately, they come across some slush that could be some black ice," said Trooper Robin Mungo, of Pennsylvania State Police. "And because they are already going at a high rate of speed, then they lose control of their vehicles."

The speed limits on Interstates 79, 279, 579 and 376 were all reduced to 45 miles per hour until the roads were cleared.

More than 300 schools or districts delayed classes with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees in Pittsburgh.

With the temperatures plunging and the winds plummeting the feels-like temperatures, those who make our roads passable are understandable concerned.

"Obviously, we're concerned about the roadways refreezing, any moisture that is on the roads could refreeze with these cold temperatures," said PennDOT District 11 spokesperson Steve Cowan.

Cowan says they might be going into the weekend, but the road crews will be a full staff ready to handle whatever comes.

For first responders, it's the artic temperatures that are raising concerns about those without a home and seek shelter from the bitter bite that could put wind chills well into double digits below zero.

It's also time to keep your pets indoors when it's this cold.

A new city ordinance says that pet owners are not allowed to leave dogs out for more than 30 minutes at a time when it's below 32 degrees.

Vets say you should not keep a housedog outside for more than 10 minutes.

Certain warming centers around the area also allow pets.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker joined the KDKA Morning News with Larry Richert and John Shumway to talk about what the county does to help those who are exposed to the cold.

Fitzgerald says, "our homeless shelters are open to everybody once (the county reaches) 17 degrees. We want to encourage everybody to not be outside in this frigid weather."

Dr. Hacker warns that those who choose to be outside are typically runners and other athletes should consider moving indoors.

"You are taking very cold air into your lungs and the vulnerability to something like frost bite (is heightened)," Hacker said.

She adds that frost bite can occur, "within as little as 30 minutes depending on the temperature. The colder it is the short period of time that can be."

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(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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