Pittsburgh residents can breathe easy and shed some layers this weekend as the city sees a continuing trend of dry, cool conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. With high pressure holding strong, you've got sunshine and increasingly warmer afternoons on tap, just remember to bring in those potted plants tonight – frost advisories are still in effect until 9 AM.
For the early birds, morning valley fog may obscure your view, but it's the frost and sub-freezing temperatures that are the main events early on. If you're out before sunrise, add the extra layer – the city's lows are dipping into the 30s before they climb to more comfortable mid to upper 60s by the afternoon. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, through its Area Forecast Discussion, adds that these temperatures are expected to rise out of the 30s by 9 am - 10 am, and winds shifting southeast will bring a warmup thanks to downsloping off the ridges.
Heading into the weekend, anticipate a slight warming trend with dry conditions persisting through Saturday, the skies stay mostly clear with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Clouds will begin to gather come Saturday afternoon, as a weakening ridge and an upper-level trough visit from the northwest. Saturday night plans? You might want to carry an umbrella – a cold front and a coastal low are set to bring a chance of showers, mainly to areas north and east.
Next week looks promising for outdoor activities as the NWS promises a return to drier patterns. High pressure over New England finally takes its leave, and besides some possible lake-effect showers for those further north, Pittsburgh should stay precipitation-free till at least Thursday. As if on cue, an approaching trough might shake things up with showers by late Thursday, so enjoy the clear skies while they last.
Aviation-wise, pilots can expect VFR conditions and clear skies to dominate the charts until Saturday, perfect for flyers who prefer uninterrupted views. Just keep an eye out for potential brief and minor steam fog along the rivers tonight. As the weekend carries on, look for that restriction and shower potential rearing up Saturday night and into early Monday as that upper-level low makes its mark on the region.
