Prepare your umbrellas and secure your patio furniture, Pittsburgh. According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, PA, today's muggy warmth will give way to showers and potential thunderstorms later this afternoon. A cold front will move in to deliver a plunge in temperatures and a drier workweek ahead.
The forecast discussion points to unseasonably warm with increasing humidity during the afternoon, but keep your eyes peeled as the skies are poised for more drama than just heat and sweat. Strong to severe thunderstorms could punch through the calm façade by late afternoon, possibly packing large hail and damaging winds as they morph into a bowing line. Yet, the tornado threat remains a narrow sliver of possibility, given that the clouds will be lofted high, curtailing the twisters' playground.
For those making evening commute plans, note that the severe weather threat is anticipated to taper off around 8pm. Any lingering showers are expected to say their farewell to the region before the stroke of 10 pm, making way for average overnight temperatures and a sign-off to the weekend's humid embrace.
As the new workweek beckons, so does a return to the familiar chill of fall. A much cooler air mass will return to the area, with Monday's high temperatures dropping around 20 degrees, hitting the low 60s. It's a cooling pattern that's slated to stick, at least until midweek, when a mild uptick is on the horizon. On the brighter side, those who aren't fans of rainy days will welcome the stretch of dry conditions, courtesy of a looming high-pressure system.
While pilots will enjoy VFR conditions until around 2 p.m. today, they should brace for potential visibility drops and gusty winds later on as thunderstorms barrel in. But once the front passes, aviation prospects look clear, with high pressure ushering in VFR conditions through the week. Early risers and late night dwellers, however, could be treated to a dance of fog along the river valleys, courtesy of cooler nights and calm winds.
