Brace yourselves, Pittsburgh residents – a classic case of winter meets spring today. As per the National Weather Service Pittsburgh, PA, rain is rolling this afternoon, with some areas primed for a rain/snow mix, especially north of Pittsburgh. And hold onto your hats – or rather, umbrellas – because another full-scale precipitation event is on the horizon for midweek.
The forecast released early Sunday morning didn't need much tweaking from the overnight projections. After a brisk drop into the low 20s and teens up north, the encroaching clouds and a hefty push of warmer air will keep the mercury from nosediving any further. However, if you're nestled north of I-80 or amongst the Laural Highlands, expect a mixed bag of precipitation starting this afternoon. Light precipitation associated with the clipper will begin to overspread the area early this afternoon, most widespread north of Pittsburgh, the forecasters explained. Plus, a nip in the air could allow for an interlude of sleet or maybe even freezing rain – though it's a low-confidence scenario right now, any dusting of danger should be fleeting.
Shifting gears into the upcoming workweek, Monday's set to welcome a dose of unseasonal warmth with a chance for the year's first 60-degree Fahrenheit reading south of the Mason-Dixon. But don't get too comfortable – a cold front trailing a low-pressure system will ensure any toasty thoughts are tempered by the time Tuesday rolls around. The forecasters said there will be increasing warmth on Monday, with cooler temperatures again on Tuesday. But at least Tuesday promises to be dry with some sunny breaks.
For those playing the long game, your weather watcher's eye should be on Wednesday and Thursday when the atmospheric action ramps up again. A strong shortwave trough is expected to escort a surface low pressure across our patch, meaning rain – and plenty of it. Confidence grows in the timing of a Wednesday/Thursday system, noted the forecast discussion, with rain predicted to persist into early Friday. Watch for a potential transition to light snow as cooler currents chase out the rain. As for the weekend warriors, early signs suggest you might contend with another watery bout by Saturday – but the jury's still out.
Pilots can expect visual range flying conditions to hold steady through Sunday morning in the skies but be ready for more challenging navigation as the day progresses. CIG restrictions are likely to continue into Monday morning, with probabilities of MVFR CIGs remaining largely above 60% for most terminals by 12z tomorrow, according to aviation forecasts. Keep those flight plans flexible, as Monday's clearer sky might be just a temporary respite with a cold front and new precipitation chances moving in that evening.
