Pittsburgh residents can expect a brief respite from the rains with dry and warmer weather today as ridging builds over the region, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. However, the city is not quite done with inclement weather, as more rain, snow, and a potential icy mix are coming Wednesday through Thursday. This follows a chilly start to the morning, with areas of fog along and north of the I-80 corridor now lifting, as reported by the National Weather Service.
The service also indicates that Pittsburgh temperatures might climb into the 50s, with a 60-90% chance south of the city of hitting 60°F for the first time this year. A cold front is expected to pass through Monday night, bringing light rain chances followed by a drop in temperature on Tuesday. There's a chance of isolated black ice Tuesday morning due to possible road puddles, although a significant changeover to frozen precipitation isn't expected. High pressure is forecasted to bring partly clear skies and near-average high temperatures after the front moves through.
On Wednesday, confidence is high that widespread precipitation will overtake the area. Precipitation type will be the predominant challenge with this system, and freezing rain may impact portions of the area Wednesday and Wednesday night, states the forecast discussion from the National Weather Service. There is a greater 40% chance of freezing rain along the Allegheny Mountains stretching to the I-80 corridor near Grove City, PA. Significant icing could occur in these regions.
By Thursday, rainfall intensifies, creating concerns about excessive rainfall. The heaviest downpours are expected Wednesday night. According to the National Weather Service report details, WPC has introduced a Day 3 Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall, primarily targeting heavy rains Wednesday night. The region could see rainfall totals over 0.75 inches, with gusty conditions that may lead to power restoration issues if ice accumulation brings down limbs.
As the weekend approaches, the forecast predicts a return to drier conditions on Friday but cooler temperatures than Thursday. Another system is expected to cross the area Saturday into Sunday, potentially bringing mixed precipitation. Ensembles continue to show a high probability of another low-pressure system crossing the region Saturday into Sunday. The weather will stabilize slightly, with near-seasonal temperatures on Friday but warming up again for the weekend.
For the latest aviation weather, the outlook calls for VFR conditions to briefly return on Tuesday before another round of restrictions rolls in with the midweek wet weather. These conditions will likely impact flights, as a wintry mix of precipitation is expected Wednesday with a crossing warm front, eventually changing to rain by Thursday, with restrictions looming until high pressure clears the skies again on Friday.
