Pittsburgh and surrounding areas are gearing up for a wintry mix today, as the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh reports a possibility of a brief light glaze of ice. While the freezing rain is predicted to transition quickly to all rain, drivers are advised to exercise caution, especially across portions of the I-80 corridor and higher terrain, with a higher probability of ice. According to the National Weather Service, any significant accumulation of freezing rain will likely be confined to parts of northern Jefferson and Forest counties in Pennsylvania and eastern Tucker County.
The forecast for the week is looking just as active, with warm temperatures and rain expected to start Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. As the week progresses, another weather system is set to bring more precipitation to the area. The NWS advises that while the chance of freezing overnight rain is low, it can not be discounted entirely, especially in eastern Tucker and Forest counties. However, the NWS also mentions that most of the region should stay above freezing, hinting at a relatively mild start to the workweek.
Looking further ahead, the long-term forecast suggests the region will see rain chances return on Wednesday, followed by a cooling trend that brings temperatures down from the mid-40s to the 20s and 30s by the end of the week. This weather shift could impact travel and outdoor activities, so residents should stay informed on updates.
Traveling by air might also be problematic today, with the NWS stating that VFR conditions are expected to change with the incoming precipitation, leading to restrictions across the TAF period. Certain airports, like BVI, FKL, and DUJ, have higher probabilities of seeing at least a glazing of ice, whereas others have lower risks for accumulation. While the chance for IFR visibilities remains generally low, local spikes in rain intensity could make for less than ideal flying conditions in some parts of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
As systems continue to sweep across the region, the NWS has issued various winter weather advisories and a winter storm warning, effective until later today or Monday morning, for several Pennsylvania counties and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Pittsburghers should prepare for a slippery commute and watch for updated weather advisories. The forecast for the latter part of the week and into the weekend suggests that unsettled weather is not quite done with us, so keep those umbrellas and warm layers at hand.
