Pittsburgh residents can expect a burst of gusty winds post-sunrise today, with wind speeds likely to hit the 25-35mph range in lower elevations, and even higher — 35-45mph — in the more elevated terrains of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This update comes courtesy of the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, who published their area forecast early this Sunday morning.
The weather should remain dry throughout the day, and despite the blustery conditions, the skies are predicted to stay mostly clear. As the day transitions into night, the gusts are expected to settle down, making way for chillier overnight lows — all under a blanket of clear skies. The forecasted dryness and mild weather will roll over into Monday, but don't hang your raincoats up just yet; rain is set to return come Tuesday. Changing weather patterns, courtesy of a low-pressure system originating in the Rockies, will swing through bringing rainfalls that might accumulate 0.25 to 0.50 inches by late Tuesday night.
For those planning ahead for Thanksgiving, the message is clear: bundle up and be ready for a cold snap. Following a possible, gusty shower Wednesday afternoon, the descent into colder weather is on course, setting us up for a frosty holiday. By the time Thursday rolls around, lake-effect snow could be adding a picturesque yet inconvenient layer to parts of Mercer, Venango, and Forest Counties, indicating that winter is indeed coming to Pittsburgh.
In terms of aviation, VFR conditions are on the morning menu, albeit a band of clouds is tagging along with the passage of a cold front, might bring about very light rain, especially at FKL and DUJ. The overall outlook remains VFR-friendly through Monday night, but those looking up might catch sight of the changes as the week heads into Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing with it, not just rain, but also the potential for wind-gusted showers and, later, scattering snow showers in cold post-Thanksgiving Thursday — so flyers, take heed.
For now, no watches, warnings, or advisories are in place for our tri-state slice of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. But, as the holiday season inches closer, it's prudent to keep an eye on the skies, as the upcoming front may likely demand some weather-related headlines soon enough.
