Pittsburgh residents can look forward to a dry spell and pleasant weather conditions through Thursday thanks to a high-pressure system, as reported by the National Weather Service. With the humidity lying low, the day is shaping up to be quite agreeable. The only exception might come as some river valley fog south of Pittsburgh this morning, which shouldn't affect the city's clear skies.
Morning temperatures are expected to fall into the low to mid-50s, adhering close to the climatological average for this time of the year. A slight uptick in our thermometers is expected later in the afternoon, with the mercury expected to reach the lower 80s under predominantly sunny conditions. Despite an increase in upper-level smoke this morning, there shouldn't be any noticeable impact at the surface, providing residents with yet another reason to enjoy the open skies.
As we head into the latter part of this week, the same high pressure will give way to a bit of a warming trend through Thursday night. Come Friday, however, rain chances make a comeback. While Thursday will still hold onto dry conditions, a weak front moving into Pittsburgh may change the situation, nudging dewpoints upward, making things feel not quite "sticky" but less comfortable than the days prior.
By the weekend, there's a shift in the forecast with an uptick in rain possibilities. An almost rooted frontal boundary across the region adds to the unsettled weather mix, raising the potential for localized flash flooding. The Weather Prediction Center has included us in a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall. The prolonged rain could also result in cool temperatures throughout the weekend before they start to inch back up next week, although they're expected to hover around the average for this season.
For those taking to the skies, the aviation outlook is clear until at least Thursday with high pressure and weak upper flow supporting VFR and dry conditions. Beyond that, as we move into Friday and the weekend, travelers should start to watch for increased precipitation chances that might affect flight visibility and schedules.
