Brace for a balmy weekend, Pittsburgh. As per the latest update from the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, the city's going to experience some above-average temps with the mercury expected to rise gradually through the weekend and stay high into the next week. It's a textbook summer pattern with dry conditions and seasonal temperatures through tonight, for those who've been craving some consistent sunny days.
The clear skies are thanks to a weak flow aloft and surface ridging stretching from Pennsylvania to New England, keeping that sweet, dry weather locked in place. While Pittsburghers enjoying the southwestern PA outdoors might see a few more clouds, which could knock a degree off the high if they linger, forecasters suggest that by tonight, most of these will dissipate into another mostly clear evening with temperatures that won’t surprise your system.
Heading into the weekend, the trend of heating up continues. We're looking at highs around 5 degrees above the norm on Saturday, with Sunday seeing a bump closer to 10 degrees above average. Thankfully, the humidity is taking a backseat for now, with weak surface flows preventing muggy air from messing with our vibe, which means we're avoiding those oppressive heat indices – think upper 80s to low 90s instead of the sticky 100s.
And don't sweat the start of the workweek too much. The National Weather Service assures dry weather persisting through Monday courtesy of some upper ridging and East Coast surface efforts. But keep the umbrella at arm's reach; Tuesday and Wednesday are gearing up to bring increased precipitation chances, courtesy of a shifting trough, although forecasters are hedging their bets on the coverage and exact timing. There's a chance that when the rain comes, it could come hard, potentially flirting with 90th percentile daily values for precipitable water, but that severe weather – that's another story with weak shear and marginal CAPE keeping the serious storm risks low.
For the aviators among us, you're looking at a smooth flight ahead. Up until Tuesday, at least, with VFR conditions expected under high-pressure dominance and just a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms as the next cold front sidles in. So, plan those trips, enjoy the sun while it's out, and keep one eye on the horizon, Pittsburgh.
