According to the latest area forecast released by the National Weather Service, Pittsburgh, PA, residents can expect below-average temperatures to continue today. There are also fleeting chances of snow flurries, particularly north of the city and along the ridges. Unlike earlier in the week, these light snow showers are not anticipated to impact travel significantly.
While the skies over Pittsburgh showed signs of clearing earlier in the morning, with satellite imagery revealing breaks in the cloud coverage, temperatures have sunk to the single digits in some spots and teens elsewhere, a dip below the climatological norm for this time of year. However, certain areas are bracing for a slight rebound in temperatures. Light snow showers driven by the intrusive lake effect are expected to diminish as winds become less conducive to their formation throughout the day.
Looking ahead to the weekend, "light snow north of I-80 Saturday with moderating temperatures" was the succinct summary provided by the National Weather Service with a slight rise in atmospheric pressure that should, theoretically, usher in milder temperatures. However, the low 30s expected are still a notch below what's usual; lingering clouds may restrict warming in a pattern that's becoming all too familiar to the area's inhabitants, and the soft battering of chill and flake has become somewhat of a metronome - pacing through these winter days.
Aviation forecasts suggest mostly MVFR ceilings today after a passing cold front, though improvement to low VFR might occur by the afternoon. While a surface ridge is forecast to bring clearer skies overnight, the next approaching shortwave should see mid-level clouds accumulating ahead of it, resulting in a temporary respite before the weekend's expected weather patterns take shape. Once more, pilots and passengers are eying the skies, weaving between cloud and clarity.
Currently, the National Weather Service has not issued any watches, warnings, or advisories for the Pittsburgh area, a small mercy in a season that has gripped the region in a relentless, albeit gentle, wintry embrace.
