Pittsburgh is gearing up for a dry and sunny start to the week, with temperatures set to climb above normal levels, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. In a report released at the crack of dawn, forecasts anticipate a dry spell accompanied by a spike in temperatures beginning today and stretching into the early part of next week. High pressure to the northwest, along with an upper-level trough moving eastward, are factors contributing to the warmth and clear skies.
However, not everything is crystal clear. The same reports indicate there might be some haziness overhead due to smoke from Canadian wildfires making its way into the region. Described by the National Weather Service as an increasing smoke aloft, our skies may not be as blue as one might hope. Still, temperatures are rebounding after a night that saw lows in the low 40s and upper 30s, a bit above what may have been without the wind currents. The city dodged frost advisories, but areas in eastern Tucker County, WV, weren't as lucky, with a warning remaining in effect until 8 AM today.
As the week progresses, Pittsburghers can expect to put their winter coats away for good—temperatures are due to turn up a notch. With high pressure holding firm, local meteorologists predict that the mercury could hit the mid-80s by Tuesday and potentially even nudge the 90-degree mark by Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, "Probability of reaching 85F or higher on Tuesday is generally from 40-70% in the urban areas and southeastern Ohio."
The latter half of the week, however, warns of a return to more seasonable conditions along with increased chances of rain—and perhaps even severe weather. As the high-pressure ridge weakens and a surface trough moves in, ensembles indicate some variation in the timing of these anticipated precipitation events. According to forecasters, the most accurate predictors are machine learning outputs, which suggest an increased severe potential. At the same time, details remain hazy due to discrepancies in the data concerning the location and direction of the incoming trough. Alongside this, a return to normal temperatures is expected as a more zonal flow pattern takes hold, a reprieve from the week's earlier heat spike.
For aviation, those flying high in the coming days can look forward to VFR conditions, thanks to the stifling dominance of high pressure and dwindling northwest flow overhead. Pilots should expect gusty NW winds on Sunday afternoon as daytime heating stirs the air. The week should remain clear for air travel, with VFR likely to hold until the next round of possible showers and thunderstorms presents an increased risk of flying restrictions, anticipated to arrive sometime late Wednesday or Thursday.
