Folks in Pittsburgh can expect to see the last of this morning's fog burn off, but don't put those umbrellas away just yet. According to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, another round of showers and a couple of rumbles of thunder are set to roll through the area tonight into Saturday, dragging down the temps to well below what's typical for this time of year. So if you've got plans this weekend, it might be a good idea to include a jacket.
The morning started with some patches of dense fog, especially northwest of Pittsburgh, which led the National Weather Service to issue a Dense Fog Advisory in those areas. By 9 am, the fog is expected to have lifted, but not before it gives way to potential wet weather later in the evening. Showers and thunderstorms are looking like a low probability event, but they can't be ruled out entirely, and where they do pop up, there's a chance you might see some gusty winds too. The National Weather Service is quick to add that we shouldn't be too alarmed—as they put it, "the conditional threat that could portend damaging wind/hail/tornado threats remains fair to highlight"—though the chances remain low.
Saturday's looking bleaker with the rain set to continue, though it seems like it might shift a bit farther east than previously thought. This might just give those in the far northwest of the region a break from the rain and a glimpse of that elusive sun, nudging those afternoon temperatures up somewhat. But the overall picture is a chilly one for the weekend.
Come Sunday, the outlook starts to improve ever so slightly, with dry weather inching its way back into the forecast as the day goes on. However, those living north of Pittsburgh might still need to keep that rain gear handy, thanks to possible showers spurred on by lake effects. And while we're supposed to attempt to hit 70 degrees, which is not near the average 78, the NWS is kind enough to let us know that we might not quite get there.
Looking ahead to next week, ensemble models are throwing out some confident vibes, promising us a dry spell with temps gradually making their way back up to seasonal averages by Wednesday. The next chance for rain? Well, that's not expected until the latter part of the week. So, maybe there's light at the end of the tunnel for Pittsburgh after all, at least in terms of getting back to those late summer norms.
For aviators, this morning's IFR conditions should ease up as the day progresses. Just watch out for those showers and thunderstorms potentially impacting visibility overnight. Once we get past Saturday evening, VFR looks to be the order of the day through Tuesday, with high pressure settling in and doing us all a solid.
Pittsburghers, you can get through this. Dig out the raincoats, ready the soup pots – fall is making an early entrance, and it's doing so with a soggy, blustery flair.
