Pittsburgh residents can expect a noticeable cooldown accompanied by showers and perhaps a thunderclap as we head into the weekend. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh detailed in their morning report that a weak cold front will bring rain, primarily to areas south and east of the city. It seems that fall is hinting at its arrival with temperatures expected to dip around 10 degrees below the norm.
According to the weather report, this morning could see areas of showers and localized thunderstorms, with winds gusting up to 40 mph. While severe weather is not anticipated, the possibility of moderate rainfall is on the table, especially east of I-77 in Ohio. After a brief respite around mid-morning, another wave of showers may follow—though lightning and any severe threats are considered unlikely at this stage of the game.
As the day progresses, skies are slated to clear from west to east, creating an opportunity for late-day sun. But don't be fooled by a peek of light; the cloud cover and chilly air advection from the passing front will hold the high temperature just below 70 degrees for the day. Overnight, area residents can expect mostly clear skies and a crisp drop into the 40s.
Looking ahead to Sunday and Monday, the weather service's outlook is dry but cool, with highs climbing only marginally but remaining below the typical readings for this time of year. A slight chance for a shower exists north of I-80, close to Lake Erie's shores, where lake-aided enhancements are possible due to temperature differences. But on Monday, a warming trend is set to take hold, signaling the start of a dry and gradually warming pattern that will carry into mid-week.
For aviation interests, the NWS outlook anticipates largely VFR conditions with the chance of light rain during midday that shouldn't heavily impact visibility. "Clouds are expected to break from west to east during the evening and nighttime hours," followed by VFR continuing, with the possibility of overnight valley fog—a factor that will be revisited in future forecasts.
Heading into the latter half of the week, temperatures are expected to float near average, maintaining the dry spell. While the week's end shows some uncertainty regarding temperature trends, for the most part, the upper Ohio River Valley seems poised to enjoy an uninterrupted stretch of fair weather.
