State contract Pennsylvania COSTARS road-salt contract: statewide average $92.47 a ton for 2026–27, up 4.82%Published price A Pittsburgh yard lists bulk rock salt at $170 a tonNOAA normal Pittsburgh averages about 44.1 inches of snow a season; Allentown about 33.1Freeze-thaw Allentown averages about 88 freeze-thaw days a year; Pittsburgh about 73 (our count of NOAA data, 1991–2020)Pittsburgh code Pittsburgh asks owners to clear walks within 24 hours after snowEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during itState contract Pennsylvania COSTARS road-salt contract: statewide average $92.47 a ton for 2026–27, up 4.82%Published price A Pittsburgh yard lists bulk rock salt at $170 a tonNOAA normal Pittsburgh averages about 44.1 inches of snow a season; Allentown about 33.1Freeze-thaw Allentown averages about 88 freeze-thaw days a year; Pittsburgh about 73 (our count of NOAA data, 1991–2020)Pittsburgh code Pittsburgh asks owners to clear walks within 24 hours after snowEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during it

Price figures are estimates from public bids and published price lists, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

Home › Snow & Ice Guide › How a Pennsylvania winter unfolds

How a Pennsylvania winter unfolds

Pittsburgh and Lehigh Valley snowfall, freeze-thaw counts and the season month by month.

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A Pittsburgh winter is long and steady: frequent light snows, the odd big storm, and freeze-thaw on hills all season. The Lehigh Valley sees fewer storms but even more freeze-thaw. Any given year can differ.

Snowfall and freeze-thaw

PlaceAverage seasonal snowfallFreeze-thaw days a year
Pittsburgh44.1 in72.6
Allentown33.1 in88.3

Snowfall: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals.1 Freeze-thaw days: our count of days with a high above 32°F and a low below 32°F in NOAA GHCN-Daily records, 1991–2020 average.2

The season, month by month

November: first snows

Early light snows and frosty bridges and ramps. Calibrate, pre-buy and fill storage.

December to February: the long middle

Frequent light snow and flurries in Pittsburgh, with a few bigger storms. Cold pavement; treated salt and calcium on walks.

March: late storms and refreeze

Big late-season storms are possible. Higher sun melts by day; ridges refreeze by night.

April: the tail

Occasional late snow. Sweep and reuse leftover salt and review your logs.

Next in the guideStorm-readiness checklist →

Sources

  1. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals
  2. NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCN-Daily), station daily max/min temperatures 1991–2020

Figures are quoted from the sources above. Conditions on your sites vary; follow product labels and your own calibration.

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Talk to people who've run plows at 3 a.m. We know what it's like when the shed is empty, the radar is lit up and your clients expect dry walks by 7. Tell us what you need, and you'll get a straight answer and a written quote, not a sales pitch.

  • Fast delivery. Bulk dropped at your site, sized to your season, so you don't need a salt barn.
  • Storm-night loading. Extended loading hours when a big event hits.
  • Storm-priority list. Get in line for resupply before the storm, not during it.
  • See it first. Ask for a yard visit and see the treated salt in person.
  • Fall pre-buy and seasonal contracts. Lock in tons before the first flake.

Quotes are answered by a wholesale supplier serving Pittsburgh, its suburbs and the Lehigh Valley. Final prices, minimums and delivery area are on your written quote.

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