In Pittsburgh, residents are bracing for a wet and potentially tumultuous weekend as weather experts highlight the risk of severe storms and flooding. According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a stalled boundary just south of the Mason-Dixon Line is expected to spawn another afternoon of showers and thunderstorms today.
The weather service has also issued a Flash Flood Watch from 11 AM EDT today through late tonight for regions including Tucker County and the southern parts of Preston County. With high rainfall rates recently observed and an expected 20% to 30% probability for yet another inch of rain, officials are quickly working to caution residents and mitigate potential damages preventively. The situation is set to intensify further over the weekend, as another strong front is expected to bring another opportunity for severe weather and flash flooding.
Tomorrow's forecast suggests more of the same, as the front is likely to return north on Saturday, bringing a risk of heavy rain and flooding to a wider area on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh NWS. Given the expected precipitable water values of 1.8 to 2.0 returning to the area, the flood threat remains ongoing. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk over a large portion of the forecast area for Saturday. Severe weather, primarily in the form of wind, is also a concern, with the severe potential continuing to affect the region through the weekend.
Come Monday, Pittsburgh may experience a brief respite from the rain and humidity as high pressure sweeps across the Great Lakes. However, occasional rain chances are expected from Tuesday through Thursday, as the overall weather pattern remains active, according to the NWS. The rigid boundary that's been the root of much of the recent weather tumult is expected to sink southward on Sunday, following the northwest flow aloft on the periphery of building lower Mississippi Valley ridging. This indicates that another round of showers and storms could occur, with the possibility of isolated flash flooding issues persisting, particularly south of Pittsburgh.
As for the skies, the stalled boundary south of Pittsburgh will be the main culprit for aviation impacts through tonight. The front is projected to serve as a focus for initially isolated showers that become increasingly scattered (with lightning) between 2 PM and 10 PM EDT. As storms potentially diminish by 00z, airports that have experienced heavy rainfall are on alert for possible fog or haze restrictions come sunrise on Saturday, says the NWS Pittsburgh report.
