Pittsburgh residents can look forward to a relatively dry and cool Labor Day weekend. A cold front is passing through today, bringing minor showers or drizzle this morning before clearer skies move in. "A cold front will move through the region this morning, producing spotty showers or areas of drizzle," stated the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA. Temperatures are expected to be 10 degrees below the daily average this afternoon due to the cooler air settling in.
Those planning evening activities should know the potential to quickly form locally dense fog overnight, especially in river valleys. High pressure building in the region will keep conditions mostly dry, but the cool temperatures will persist. "Building high pressure will then promote dry weather with broken to scattered clouds this afternoon," the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA forecasted. This high pressure is also expected to create wind gusts between 20 and 25mph, northeast of Pittsburgh and in higher terrain areas.
For those getting an early start on Saturday, watch out for any lingering fog from overnight, which should clear up with morning heating. The high pressure, stationed over Michigan, promises another day of sun and cooler-than-average temperatures. The same holds for the night, with weather conditions favoring the development of river valley steam fog. The short-term forecast, "Diurnal heating/mixing will erode any morning fog and give way to mostly sunny skies," promises quieter weather until at least Saturday night.
Looking ahead to the rest of the Labor Day weekend and the following week, the weather appears favorable for those with holiday plans. The long-term forecast indicates a quiet and dry weekend with temperatures below average on Sunday before rain chances increase mid-week. "Quiet and dry Labor Day weekend," as the National Weather Service summed up, should make for an ideal end to summer activities. Around Wednesday, there could be a return of rain, with the possibility of stronger storms that will need to be closely watched later in the week.
Aviators should also note the favorable conditions for most of this period, with VFR predicted through the holiday weekend, except for some morning fog chances. "Save daily morning fog chances, VFR is confidently forecast through the Labor Day weekend with prevailing high pressure," according to the National Weather Service. Lastly, every locale in the Pittsburgh area can rest easy; no watches, warnings, or advisories are currently in place.
