As the city gears up for a typical summer's end, the ever-churning atmosphere presents Pittsburgh with a cocktail of weather patterns. The National Weather Service advises us to expect scattered showers and storms today courtesy of a cold front sweeping through. Post-storm conditions promise to calm down with cooler and drier air making a grand entrance on Friday, setting the stage for a warmer weekend.
Linger might the fog and low clouds into the early hours, specifically targeting regions north and west of Pittsburgh where breaks in overcast skies might just tease us with 50-60% probabilities for dense fog. The pesky cold front is dutifully trailed by a positively tilted upper trough and a surface low, all making their way across southern Ontario and the northeastern CONUS. As for thunderstorms, don't bet the farm; the atmosphere's just not feeling it, with mid-level subsidence squashing the potential for significant convective updrafts.
Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, the forecast speaks of dry, comfortable vibes with temperatures hinging on seasonal normals. "Upper troughing lingers through the day on Friday but heights will slowly rise and conditions remain dry as high pressure holds firm," as stated in the forecast discussion. Saturday follows suit, with a minor fanfare of rising temperatures as a side effect of the southward shift in pressure systems.
By Sunday, however, the plot thickens with warmer and more humid conditions moving in, confronting us with potential highs grazing the 90-degree mark in urban valleys. The outlook beyond teases at possible severe weather episodes and a moderate risk of excessive heat as we stride into August.
In aviation circles, the nocturnal development of fog and low clouds has been the main concern. Visibilities could drop to IFR/MVFR levels, mainly targeting river valley airports. However, VFR conditions will reign supreme once the sun climbs high enough to mitigate the front's influence. Travelers and pilots alike can expect clear skies as of Friday, with high pressure firmly in control, according to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA.
