The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has provided some heads-up for those living in the Upper Ohio Valley area, and it seems that damp conditions are going nowhere fast. The region remains under the stubborn presence of an upper low-pressure center stationed over the Great Lakes, keeping us all in a bit of a soggy situation. Pittsburghers, if you were hoping for a splash of sunshine, you might want to keep the galoshes handy — forecasters are calling for showers to continue popping up across the region.
However, it's not all gray skies, as the weather wizards claim that the continued saturation of the area will cause some fog concerns throughout the morning and much of the day, particularly in the higher terrain across PA and WV. With the low pressure sticking around like an unwanted guest, our friends at the National Weather Service predict that the scattered rain showers will stay the course through the afternoon. This precipitation pattern is expected to stick its heels into the ground well into Saturday, although a brief interlude of dry weather could grace us by Sunday thanks to some high-pressure payback.
Those longing for a return to seasonal norms will have to wait a bit longer, as highs barely hitting 60 when we should be in the 70s in late May are on the not-so-warm horizon. Despite the fact that flooding concerns are no longer a headline, the persistent rainfall will maintain a foggy backdrop, particularly as we head into the night.
Come the weekend, don't anticipate a miracle rebound in temperatures. We're told to keep expectations as dampened as the ground, with a chilly breeze serious enough to question whether spring lost in a battle with winter. According to the forecast, cold advection will keep temperatures well below seasonal averages through the period. And as the perpetual game of meteorological ping-pong goes, after a short-lived Sunday respite, another upper-level pattern is preparing to swoop in early next week, potentially bringing more showers into the mix.
Aviators eyeing the sky, be prepared – low MVFR to high IFR ceiling conditions are expected to pervade through most of the period, as that same upper low continues to funnel in cooler, moist air. Rainy prospects remained pegged at a 30% to 50% chance during the early hours this Thursday, ratcheting up to nearly a sure thing by the afternoon according to forecasters.
There is no need for alarm bells regarding advisories or warnings: PA, OH, and WV all sit free and clear on that front. But if you're in Pittsburgh or its environs, keep the rain gear deployed and the thermostat cranked until Mother Nature decides to flip the script on us again.
