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Winter Storm Expected To Bring Freezing Rain, Snow To Western Pa.

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Another major winter storm system is taking aim at western Pennsylvania.

Uncertainty remains with exactly what we can expect across the area. At this point, we know the region will see snow, rain and freezing rain.

However, which areas will get which precipitation is still up in the air.

As of noon Wednesday, it appears places along and just north of Interstate 80 will have the best chance for seeing freezing rain. Places south of Pittsburgh and west will have the smallest chance of seeing freezing rain and will probably only see brief periods of freezing rain.

thursday ice totals
(Photo Credit: KDKA)

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The system is coming from the south and is bringing early season snow to places like Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas.

Just before 3 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for western Pennsylvania until 7 p.m. on Thursday.

"A wintry mix of some precipitation is scheduled to arrive in the area right around, or maybe just before daybreak [Thursday]. It'll be about that time that a Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect and stay in effect until 7 o'clock on Thursday evening," said KDKA Chief Meteorologist Jeff Verszyla.

It could begin to rain as soon as 5 a.m. on Thursday, with temperatures near freezing. Rain and snow are expected to continue through the day and wrap up on Friday morning.

"The precip not arriving until after 6 or 7 o'clock [Thursday] morning, it will expand north. We'll see a window between about 6 or 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. when we'll see a wintry mix and then a change over to mainly rain for the duration of the day before we transition back into a period of snow showers, but not until after 9 or 10 p.m. [Thursday] evening," Verszyla said.

Light Up Night, the annual start of the holiday season in Downtown Pittsburgh, should be dry, but cold.

As a reminder, conditions on Thursday morning may be hazardous. You should stay weather aware, including checking conditions before you head out. Even if conditions seem fine, patches of ice could cause slick conditions in isolated spots.

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