The city will experience much-needed relief from the recent high temperatures today. According to the National Weather Service's latest forecast, residents should anticipate cooler air and an overcast sky, with the possibility of a few showers, particularly near the I-80 corridor. This marks a break from the heat, ushering in cooler weather as the weekend progresses.
The chill is due to a 500mb trough from the north, which is expected to move through Pittsburgh later this morning and into the afternoon. This trough, in combination with the northwest flow and cold air advection, will also keep a dense layer of clouds over the area for much of the day. While showers could be scattered in the northern parts of the region, they are not anticipated to affect the entire city. Furthermore, it's been forecasted that drying air from the west will begin to disperse the cloud cover by late afternoon.
Looking ahead to tonight and the start of the new week, the National Weather Service advises residents to expect clear skies and continuing cool temperatures on Sunday. "Even with increased sunshine, high temperatures Sunday will generally be about 10 degrees below normal," the NWS forecast states. However, things are looking up by Monday with a return to drier conditions and slightly warmer temperatures.
The long-term outlook for the week ahead is promising, forecasting a steady warming trend through to Friday. With the troublesome upper low moving northeast and out of the region, heights are set to rise, translating to an extended period of dry and pleasant weather. The city can expect VFR conditions across the airports, courtesy of a dominant high-pressure system. Only the occasional river valley steam fog in the mornings is likely to pose any significant visibility hurdles for commuters and travelers.
For now, no weather advisories, watches, or warnings are in place for Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia, signifying a brief respite from what has been a turbulent season of weather thus far.
