As Pittsburgh gears up for a weekend that's set to sizzle, the local weather seers at the National Weather Service have officially predicted an above-average temperature trend, kicking off today and rolling right through til Monday. In the no-frills words of the NWS, temperatures will trend above average today and through the weekend under the influence of high pressure, with only a minimal chance for meaningful rainfall over the next week. This forecast is surely a cue for outdoor enthusiasts to ready their plans, as sunbaked days loom ahead.
It seems the city is to be cradled in a sort of meteorological lull, with quiet and dry weather continuing lined up for our immediate future. Indeed, today's warmth is expected to outdo yesterday's, as this broad ridge we've been harboring sets sail across the Great Lakes. Light northern breaths are to mark our skies, doing little to budge the likelihood of precipitation far from its meager sub-five percent roost. It's a serene outlook that inspires one to possibly take a longer lunch break under the canopy of an azure, cloud-scant sky.
For those among us ticking off the workdays and eyeing the weekend's potential, the National Weather Service delivers more good news: "The persistent large-scale pattern will maintain above-average temperatures and dry conditions across the region under high pressure." Stepping into Friday, thermometers are slated to flirt with the mid-80s, and while selves don cloaks of summery attire, shrouding a warm season that's reluctant to leave, the evenings will gently fall into the cooler low to mid-50s.
Aviation interests will find solace in a continuation of favorable flight conditions, as the NWS forecasts surface high pressure is expected to maintain VFR conditions and light north winds through the TAF period. It's a bright signal for those in flight paths - a weekend promise of smooth skies and uninterrupted horizons. Glancing further, a weak cold front coming Saturday may summon a fleet of mid-level clouds, yet the towering presence of high pressure suggests clear sailing for aviators as well as terra firma residents through Monday.
