Pittsburgh residents finally see a reprieve from the icy grip as the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh reports a shift towards warmer air, bringing temperatures well above freezing. According to the latest weather discussion, the ice storm warning and winter weather advisories have largely expired, though some areas north of I-70 saw these conditions last until 10 AM EST. The high temperatures projected for today are notably higher than usual, with some locations south of Pittsburgh expected to hit above 50 degrees and Morgantown potentially reaching 60 degrees.
Looking ahead, a period of dry weather is forecasted for Friday under high pressure despite temperatures set to drop again, though they will remain around 5 degrees above normal. In the coming weekend, a new weather system may bring more wintry mix and rain starting late Saturday and into the night. This next system is predicted to bring about 0.50 to 0.75 inches of rainfall, which, combined with previous rainfall, could be a situation to monitor, according to the same National Weather Service discussion.
The longer-term forecast indicates another low-pressure system will likely bring unsettled weather to the area mid-next week. As noted in the National Weather Service's extended forecast, this system will have a particular impact on the southern forecast area on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday. Snow chances ramp up, with a 60% to 90% chance of accumulation reaching 3 inches over the West Virginia ridges.
Aviation reports show improvement with the warm front's passage as freezing rain concludes over certain areas, transitioning to rainfall and eventually ceasing by noon. Airport conditions are set to gradually upgrade from low visibility to VFR closer to 6 AM Friday. The forecast said the warm front's passage this morning will bring better boundary layer mixing, ending the overnight LLWS threat but allowing southwest winds to increase with gusts to 20-25 knots throughout the period.
Lastly, several advisories have been rescinded as the weather steadies, but remain vigilant. The Winter Weather Advisory remained in effect for certain zones, while an Ice Storm Warning persisted for ridges in PA and WV until this morning.
