For those of you in Pittsburgh hoping to enjoy a day without the need to open an umbrella, you may be in luck—at least for a part of the day. According to the National Weather Service, the city is expected to remain largely dry through the afternoon with near-normal temperatures. However, this isn't set to last long with the arrival of Tropical Storm Debby, which is set to cause a turn in the weather later in the evening. Residents should brace for widespread rain chances to return later today through Friday, leading to potential hard-hitting effects due east of the city.
In the meantime, some scattered showers and storms might disrupt eastern Ohio and far western PA due to a developing inverted surface trough. To put it straight to the point, there's time ideally to run errands or take that jog before the stormy weather decides to fully roll in. The chief concern for the area kicks in this evening as Debby, downgraded to a tropical depression, is forecasted to traverse central and eastern PA. There's a possible flood threat from Debby remnants late tonight through Friday. A Flood Watch already firmly in place for Tucker and eastern Preston counties could indicate that the skies are preparing to open in earnest.
Looking forward to the weekend, Pittsburgh residents can look to swap their raincoats for sweaters. Dry weather is expected to make a welcome comeback, but don't retire your warm clothes just yet. The region will be experiencing below-normal temperatures over the weekend, which should start to climb back to standard ranges as the new week begins. The big picture for Pittsburgh shows a brightening outlook, with a mainly dry forecast and moderation in temperature back to seasonable levels early next week.
For the folks relying on the skies remaining cooperative for air travel, it isn't all clear horizons. Aviation-focused forecasts from the National Weather Service suggest that, while most ports will maintain general Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, restrictions are likely Friday as tropical low Debby phases with a northern stream cold front and crosses the Upper Ohio Valley region. Anticipated rainfall from Debby could bring visibility down and affect flight schedules, so it may be wise to check in with airlines for any weather-related updates or delays.
