Frigid Temps Close Courts, Schools Go Online

No record, but Tuesday’s weather was about 20 degrees colder than usual

By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
January 22, 2025
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Jose Castro of McKeesport helps clear a sidewalk near Bethlehem Baptist Church on Tuesday afternoon. (Tube City Almanac photo)

The temperature was just about 7 degrees above zero as Jose Castro shoveled snow along Ninth Avenue near Bethlehem Baptist Church on Tuesday afternoon. Taking a quick break to talk to a passerby, Castro was philosophical about the cold: “It’s winter. You just have to deal with it.”

Up on Romine Avenue, where crews from Betters Company are demolishing the long-vacant Becker House at 511, truck driver Ron Hoffer of Fayette County was waiting for another load of debris. The temperature when he left home Tuesday morning was 6 below zero, he said.

How does he cope with working outside in sub-zero conditions? “Hot coffee,” Hoffer said. “And lots of layers.”

Tuesday’s temperatures were not near the all-time record low of 18 below zero, set in 1985, but they were roughly 20 degrees less than normal for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service in Moon Twp., leading schools to move to online classes and most court and county offices to close.

Temperatures at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin hit -1 just before 8 a.m. Tuesday before reaching a high of 13 above zero in the afternoon.

With many school districts moving classes online and local offices moving to remote work, traffic in the Mon-Yough area was reported to be unusually light.

Wednesday’s temperatures are predicted to be just as cold, if not colder, with overnight lows of 11 below zero and a high in the afternoon of 14 above. Wind chills will make the temperatures feel more like -13, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service said that “dangerously cold weather” is expected through Wednesday, with the coldest wind chills and temperatures predicted Wednesday morning. A cold weather advisory has been issued for the entire region, with an extreme cold warning for higher elevations to the east and south of Pittsburgh.

The high temperature is expected to return to a more seasonable 27 degrees on Thursday, according to NWS.

Near-zero temperatures did not deter crews from Betters Company from continuing their work demolishing a house on Romine Avenue in upper 10th Ward. (Tube City Almanac photo)

Warming shelter open

McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko announced that the Palisades Event Center, Water Street at Fifth Avenue, Downtown, would be open as a warming shelter from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday for anyone who lost or did not have heat.

Outside of McKeesport, Allegheny County Department of Human Services said that anyone who needed emergency shelter should call 1-866-730-2368, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Second Avenue Commons’ engagement center in Downtown Pittsburgh also is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Courts, district justice offices closed

All Allegheny County courts, including magisterial district offices, were closed Tuesday and will remain closed on Wednesday, though arraignment court would remain open in downtown Pittsburgh for emergency protection from abuse orders.

Some park facilities — including the Boyce Park skiing and snow-boarding slopes and the South Park ice rink — are also closed “to protect staff and patrons from prolonged exposure to the cold,” a county spokeswoman said.

Patrons who purchased tickets in advance for skate lessons or ski lift tickets will be refunded, she said.

Essential services, including public safety departments, will be operational as usual, she said.

Most school districts move to online learning

Most area school districts and private schools moved to online or flexible instruction. In a letter to parents, Duquesne City School District Superintendent Sue Mariani said all students would have a flexible instruction day using assignments and resources sent home with students.

McKeesport Area, East Allegheny and South Allegheny also have flexible instruction days on Wednesday, while Serra Catholic High School announced that Wednesday would be an online instruction day. Serra also canceled all evening activities, practices and games on Tuesday night.

Originally published January 22, 2025.

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