Pittsburgh residents, brace yourselves for more rain and potential flooding. A National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA forecast has triggered a Flood Watch in effect through 10 pm, and it's not just your typical shower warning. According to the weather service, "Locally heavy rain may result in flash flooding again this afternoon/evening." So, if you're south of Butler, keep those umbrellas handy and maybe reconsider your afternoon hike.
The culprits behind this soggy situation are a lazy boundary that refuses to budge and water vapor levels that are off the charts. Precipitable water values are soaring at 2-3 standard deviations above normal, which, simply put, means a lot of water is ready to fall from the sky. Furthermore, the weather service alerts that the probability of rainfall rates reaching 1-2 inches per hour is above normal, ranging from 20% to 40%. That's a recipe for roads turning into rivers, so don't ignore those flood warnings.
Even as the sun goes down tonight, this doesn't mean all is clear. Rainfall is expected to subside but will persist into the early hours. Storm chances and flash flood concern hang around into Tuesday, with a Slight Risk Outlook for excessive rainfall still on the table, especially south of Pittsburgh. Remember, when they say "flash flood," they mean business – the kind that can sweep a car off the road in seconds.
Looking later into the week, it's out of the frying pan but not quite into the fire. A mid-week warmup is due, and Thursday could get a little wild. The weather service notes that a surface low (preceding an upper-level trough) is expected to move through the area, bringing the chance for severe weather. Translation: Sharp suits may not be the only thing to watch out for come Thursday. Into the weekend, however, things are looking up with a ridge forecast to bring in hot and dry weather – a welcome break for the umbrella-weary Pittsburghers.
For those of you flying in or out of Pittsburgh, the current weather has turned things a bit murky. Mixed conditions of mostly MVFR (Marginal Visual Flight Rules) and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) mean visibility and cloud ceilings could affect travel. Keep an eye on the skies, and more importantly, any advisories from your airline to play it safe. The forecast aviation outlook suggests we're not completely grounded, but showers and thunderstorms could still lead to periodic restrictions through Thursday.
