Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas are currently under the grip of a weather system expected to bring a diverse mix of rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and snow over the next two days, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Residents in the West Virginia ridges should brace for 2-4 inches of snow, and corresponding Winter Weather Advisories have been issued.
Today's severe weather potential is peaking between noon and 7 pm with threats of strong to severe thunderstorms across western Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns; in particular, Eastern Tucker County, WV, remains under a Wind Advisory until 7 pm tonight where the gusts might reach disruptive speeds with a strong pressure system causing rapidly tightening pressure gradients and bringing potential downsloping-enhanced gusts, these dynamics are unfolding on the western side of the ridges. They could result in a windy day across the region. With the storm system moving in, rainfall has already varied across the area, ranging from a trace to 0.40 inches over 6 hours.
Transitioning into the night and continuing into Thursday, the National Weather Service has advised that the onslaught of rain is expected to change to snow, with the Eastern Preston and Eastern Tucker counties in West Virginia poised to receive accumulating snowfall. These areas are now under a Winter Weather Advisory from midnight through Thursday evening. Strong post-frontal cold advection will facilitate this shift, plummeting temperatures and likely producing snow showers enhanced by the region's typical upslope patterns.
Further into the week, forecasters are promising a mild respite with drier conditions leading into Friday before another wave of precipitation possibly mixes in by Friday night. While the system on Sunday retains some uncertainty, the consensus among forecasts suggests a modest event, with height increases signaling quieter and warmer weather as next week progresses. In aviation, VFR conditions are expected today, albeit with the possibility of some MVFR ceilings due to the Ohio River Valley's situation within the warm sector of the large-scale low-pressure system. However, thunderstorms may disrupt this later today between 17Z to 22Z, and the likelihood of rain switching to snow will elevate the challenges overnight through Thursday, with VFR conditions expected to return by Thursday night, followed by the potential of another disturbance by Friday.
