The weekend weather in Pittsburgh is shaping up to be a mixed bag according to the National Weather Service. High pressure will ensure dry conditions for most of today and into Sunday night. However, folks to the southeast of the city might need to keep their umbrellas handy. A wave of low pressure is expected to trigger a few showers or thunderstorms in their area today. "Surface high pressure will keep most of the area dry today," says the National Weather Service's Pittsburgh forecast.
Temperatures today will be on par or slightly above yesterday's, with highs ticking up a degree or two under sunny skies. The NWS notes, "High temperatures should be similar, or a couple of degrees higher, than yesterday's readings with slightly higher 1000-500mb heights, and warmer 850mb temperatures." Despite the presence of the vort max approaching, instability should stay minimal.
As we head into the evening and the workweek, short-term forecasts are pointing to a continuation of the dry weather through Sunday night. But don't get too cozy with the clear skies, the National Weather Service warns of an unsettled weather pattern beginning on Monday. This brings periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms, which are expected to continue through Monday night. The Storm Prediction Rushing ahead of a Central CONUS trough, dry weather will indeed return or be maintained across the region due to the ridging that will transpire tonight through Sunday night.
In the longer term, the NWS predicts that shower and thunderstorm chances will tick upwards through the week as the temperature continues to hover above the seasonal average. The abundance of moisture and passing shortwaves hint at a weather pattern, particularly with the trough making its slow trek eastward. "Model ensembles indicate the Central CONUS trough will continue a slow eastward drift through the week," the National Weather Service forecast discussion outlined.
For aviation interests, VFR conditions are expected to hold through the weekend. The NWS states, "VFR expected through the TAF period with light to variable winds and mainly streams of broken to overcast cirrus." Pilots flying around and east of MGW should be wary of isolated to scattered showers this afternoon, although the likelihood of lightning is low. The forecast for the coming week suggests an increasing chance for isolated to scattered afternoon storms, especially in higher terrains.
No watches, warnings, or advisories are currently in place for Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia. For more information and updates, locals can visit the National Weather Service's official website.
