Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills could face heavy lake-effect snow on Sunday
While the matchup between the Dolphins and Chiefs will be cold, the Sunday game between Pittsburgh and Buffalo could be snowy.
ORCHARD PARK, NY – A storm system cutting through the nation’s heartland promises to impact nearly every NFL playoff game this weekend, including the matchup of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Buffalo Bills in the always seemingly snowy town of Orchard Park, New York.
If Sunday’s game is not moved due to safety concerns, the teams will face wind gusts of more than 30 mph and the possibility of heavy snowfall.
Forecast models show between half a foot and a foot of new snow impacting northwestern parts of New York over the weekend.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME AN NFL GAME WAS MOVED DUE TO SNOW?
(FOX Weather)
The wind gusts across the largely unfrozen water of Lake Erie promise to establish a band of heavy lake effect snow, where miles could mean the difference between near whiteout conditions and just a cold day with temperatures in the teens and 20s.
“The wind may move the ball a little bit,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said after Wednesday’s practice. “Typically, it’s going to be, with weather like this, a game that both teams are going to run the ball, and it’s going to be very possession-limited, so we got to make these possessions count.”
MILLIONS IN PATH OF BLIZZARD AS MIDWEST BRACES FOR DANGEROUS WINTER STORM
A similar threat of heavy snowfall in 2022 forced a regular season game between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills to be moved to Ford Field in Detroit.
The Bills organization has not publicly stated that they are entertaining a change of venue despite being under a Winter Storm Watch.
(FOX Weather)
Despite the wintry weather, the game is not expected to face the coldest conditions from an arctic blast. Those honors belong to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, where the mercury could be in the single digits at kickoff but feel like it is well below zero.
The Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to take on the Miami Dolphins on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium.
“We got two different opportunities for some crazy weather to happen this wild card weekend. Miami is going to Arrowhead Stadium with five degrees right around kickoff, and that may actually drop a few degrees. This is before the wind chill that is going to be 10 to 20 below,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Zack Green.
DOLPHINS-CHIEFS PREVIEW: HOW COLD WILL TEMPERATURES GET FOR NFL WILD CARD GAME IN KANSAS CITY?
If the Bills win, expect similar weather conversations to happen next week, as Highmark Stadium would be home to a playoff game for either the Chiefs, Texans or Browns.
“We’ve been through a lot of games here where we’ve had to, no pun intended, weather the storm that way, right,” head coach Sean McDermott, stated before a recent practice. “It affects how you play the game, how you manage the game. So, when we have that here, it’s an added dimension to our preparation.”
Highmark Stadium could be a snow globe Sunday as the Steelers take on the Bills in Orchard Park, New York.
Ohio black bears
A third sighting of 2026 confirms black bears are back for good in Ohio.
If you see a black bear near Pittsburgh, give it space, and don’t let your pet bother it.
That’s the advice Allegheny County’s parks department gave locals after a bear was spotted in a lake north of Pittsburgh, with the department issuing a warning in partnership with Allegheny County Police Department on June 16.
Here’s what to know about the bear sighting and bears around the Pittsburgh area.
When, where was black bear spotted near Pittsburgh?
A black bear was spotted in North Park Lake in McCandless Township in Allegheny County just north of Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County Parks didn’t say when the bear was seen, but they posted about the sighting on Facebook on June 16, saying the Pennsylvania Game Commission had been notified and was monitoring the situation.
What should you do if you spot a black bear in Pittsburgh area?
After a black bear was spotted in North Park Lake, Allegheny County Parks and Allegheny County Police Department put out a joint statement warning residents not to bother bears.
If you see a bear, you should use caution and give it “plenty of space,” according to the county parks department. Don’t approach it, and don’t try to interact with it. If you have a pet with you, keep them controlled on a leash.
“The best thing you can do is view wildlife from a safe distance and allow it to move through the area undisturbed,” the parks department said.
The state also bans residents from feeding bears.
How common are black bears in Pittsburgh area?
Bears inhabit forested areas across more than three-quarters of Pennsylvania, though they’ve been spotted in every county, according to the state game commission. The bears seen in large urban centers and agricultural areas, like the southeastern corners of the state and parts of the western border, are generally transient, as those areas don’t have enough woods to create a good habitat.
The population of bears statewide is estimated to be about 19,000 and is managed through regulated hunting to reduce the risk of more frequent human-bear conflicts. Hunters harvested 2,873 black bears in 2026, with Tioga County reporting the most harvests. Allegheny did not rank among the counties with the top 10 most bears harvested.
Black bears are also not uncommon across the border in Ohio. The state set a record with more than 500 sightings in 2025, according to a report from the Ohio Department of National Resources, with the department finding “consistent evidence” that female black bears live in the northeast corner of the state.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
We break down when Pittsburgh fireworks cross from fun into illegal
In Pennsylvania, it’s easier than ever to buy consumer fireworks, but using them inside Pittsburgh city limits is where the law tightens up.
In Pennsylvania, it’s easier than ever to buy consumer fireworks, but using them inside Pittsburgh city limits is where the law tightens up. For this week’s “Is It Legal?” series, the key distinction is that purchase and possession are generally allowed under state law, while where and how you launch them is restricted by local rules and safety regulations.
In Pittsburgh, residents can’t legally set off fireworks in public spaces like streets, sidewalks, parks or right-of-way areas. They’re also not supposed to launch them near buildings or vehicles, or in any way that directs fireworks toward people or property.
In rowhouse neighborhoods and dense blocks, that effectively rules out most front yards, alleys and tight backyards, because they sit too close to homes and parked cars to meet the distance and safety requirements. On top of that, noise and nuisance ordinances can come into play, especially late at night, giving police grounds to respond when fireworks are reported as a disturbance or hazard.
Officials stress that fireworks are explosives, not toys, and point to common risks: injuries from misfires, fires on roofs or in yards, and the impact on pets, older neighbors and veterans with PTSD. That’s why they consistently urge residents to skip DIY backyard launches and attend permitted, professional shows instead, where licensed operators, fire crews and safety plans are already in place.
So, when viewers ask “Is it legal?” the answer is nuanced: Buying fireworks is broadly legal under state law, but setting them off in most Pittsburgh neighborhoods — especially in public spaces or close to buildings — is often not, and can quickly lead to citations or police visits rather than a celebration.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
The 90-foot tall Ferris wheel will run from July 1 through July 5 on the North Shore. Tickets are on sale now and 50% of all proceeds will be donated to the Veterans Leadership Program. Tickets can be purchased at: pittsburghpa.gov/july4.
The BNY Main Stage at Point State Park will have entertainment starting at 4 p.m. Headlining the performances will be Grammy- and Tony-Award nominated national pop rock band the Plain White T’s. Shows are free,
As part of the National Flag Foundation’s Light to Unite, the city’s skyscrapers will be illuminated in red, white and blue across Downtown at 9 p.m.
The city’s fireworks spectacular is set to be the city’s largest fireworks display in decades. For the first time, there will be a drone performance immediately before the fireworks start.
The fireworks show will utilize six barges on all three rivers – and some rooftops. Fireworks will begin at 9:35 PM on July 4.
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