PennDOT worker Zach Kepple works on his plow truck Tuesday as it gets loaded with salt at the maintenance facility in Butler Township.

Everyone wants to know how much snow is coming as a result of two bands of weather that charged across the country on Tuesday. The National Weather Service is predicting from one inch of snow to an amount so high the meteorologist would not say it.

Meteorologist John Darnley said on Tuesday afternoon that Butler County would completely miss the low pressure system that caused a wintry mix in Allegheny County.

But another system rolling in from the northwest, which Darnley said was to hit Butler at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, contains so many variables that it could deposit three inches in Southern Butler County and one inch in the north.

“But there's a one-in-10 chance that you could get ... no. No, I'm not saying that number out loud,” Darnley said. “Or you could get less than an inch.”

He said air and ground temperature, time of day, the path of the storm and other variables made a sure prediction difficult at the noon hour on Tuesday.

Darnley did say the system will carry snow only and not the sleet and freezing rain of the system that hit Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning.

The white stuff is expected to begin falling in earnest at about 2 a.m. and flurries and bands of snow could occur through late morning on Wednesday.

He said while Wednesday's morning rush hour could be sloppy, he didn't expect an emergency situation because salt trucks would be able to mitigate any snow on the roads.

Darnley said those complaining about wintry weather on the first day of spring have short memories.

One year ago, the area was able to return to normal winter snowfall numbers because of the snow that fell in March, he said.

On March 21, 2017, the high temperature was 40 and the low 21, with snowfall of nearly three inches.

“That's this time of year,” Darnley said. “That's what we get.”

He reminds Western Pennsylvania residents that 17.5 inches of snow fell on March 21, 1993, which many know as “the blizzard of '93.”

“The record high and low (for March 21) are 80 and six degrees,” Darnley said. “We call (March) the transition period.”

Bruce Hartman, state Department of Transportation's assistant highway maintenance manager for Butler County, agreed.

“Historically, some of our biggest storms have been in March,” Hartman said from the PennDOT maintenance facility on New Castle Road.

He said 41 trucks and drivers were poised to plow and salt regardless of the snow amount.

“We expect the worst and hope for the best,” Hartman said.

He said he has ample salt on hand to make the roads safe.

“We have 6,000 tons, so that will be plenty for this storm,” Hartman said.

The PennDOT drivers will work in 12-hour shifts as usual, as will mechanics and radio operators.“Like they always say, this ain't our first rodeo,” Hartman said, “but we sure hope it's our last.”PennDOT trucks were to be out Tuesday night to get the roads in the best shape they can for the Wednesday morning rush hour, he said.“We recommend people not be out overnight if they don't have to,” Hartman said, “and if they are, drive slow and be patient.”He said the most challenging areas in the county in a winter precipitation event are those with steep hills.He said Bear Creek Hill on Route 268 north of Bruin and many areas in Butler spring to mind.“We have a lot of steep hills in the City of Butler,” Hartman said.PennDOT District 10 has imposed a series of restrictions on most interstates beginning at 8 p.m. in case of a significant snow event.The PennDOT ban is on empty straight CDL-weighted trucks, tractors hauling double trailers, tractors hauling empty trailers, trailers pulled by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks, motorcycles or recreational vehicles on 10 state highways.The only restrictions impacting Butler County are Interstate 79 from the Turnpike to Interstate 80 and the entire length of the Turnpike.The other restrictions are available at www.511PA.com.Penn State Master Gardener Chuck Smith of Portersville said the potential snowfall, or any snowfall, is actually a good thing for underground bulbs or hardy bushes.“It's like a blanket,” Smith said.He said a temperature that dips to 16 degrees or below is a worse adversary, and perennial shrubs that bloom early, bushes with swollen buds or bulbs that have popped out of the ground should be covered with burlap or another protective covering.“The snow isn't the problem, it's the temperature,” Smith said.

PennDOT worker Zach Kepple attaches his plow to his truck as it gets loaded up with salt at the PennDOT maintenance facility in Butler Twp.