The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a flood watch for the I-80 corridor, effective today until 4 PM EDT, as per their latest Area Forecast Discussion. Pittsburgh and areas to the south should brace for potential flash flooding and thunderstorms through the afternoon, with rainfall rates possibly reaching 1.75 to 1.85 inches.
While the I-80 corridor tackles morning flash floods, Pittsburgh could see a cooler environment, and tempered sunlight might result in more stable conditions to the north. However, just south of the city, "the airmass may be uncontaminated with perhaps a fractionally lower low-cloud fraction," according to the National Weather Service. Indeed, these atmospheric conditions could lead to thunderstorms with drastically higher rain rates.
Sunday and Monday are slated to continue the trend with storms and flooding potential prevailing. The Weather Prediction Center has already ramped up the flood risk, particularly for northern West Virginia where a slight risk of excessive rainfall has been noted. The boldest predictions suggest up to 2 to 3 inches of rain falling in an hour in localized areas during peak times.
As we head into mid-week, signs of a warmup emerge. With a high confidence of temperatures reaching the mid to upper 80s, the focus will shift to the increasing late-week severe potential. By Friday, changes in the atmosphere may set the stage for severe weather conditions, though specifics remain uncertain at this stage.
For aviation interests, varying levels of visibility and restrictions can be expected. The Pittsburgh area might face light to moderate rain showers with IFR/LIFR restrictions north of I-70 this morning. However, the potential for thunderstorms later in the day means drastic drops in visibility are possible within the very heavy rain of afternoon storms, especially south of I-80. The spotty pattern is projected to persist into early next week, as the weather system meanders through the region.
Residents and travelers in affected areas are advised to keep abreast of the latest weather updates and heed any advisories or watches issued by local authorities. The National Weather Service and other meteorological agencies continue to monitor and report on these developments to provide the most current and accurate information for public safety.
