Pittsburgh is gearing up for a climactic roller coaster this week, starting with today's calm and precipitation-free skies, as forecasted by the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA. Enjoy the tranquility while it lasts, because rain chances return tomorrow morning and continue into Wednesday, the agency said in a morning update.
For those early birds, there was some patchy river valley fog that cleared up as the sun climbed higher, setting the stage for a dry and presumably productive Monday. But don't get too cozy with the sunshine. A closed upper-level low over the Rocky Mountains is expected to transition into an open-wave trough over the next 24 hours, which means that starting Tuesday morning, the area will see rain re-enter the chat.
The weather pattern shift will usher in a midweek soaker, bringing steady rain early Tuesday afternoon. With rainfall totals projected to be between 0.30 to 0.60 inches for the region, with localized higher amounts south of Pittsburgh, umbrellas and rain boots will be the accessories of choice, especially as there's a 10 percent chance of amounts exceeding an inch, according to the National Weather Service forecast discussion.
Come Wednesday, prepare for a windy encore as the trough will deepen over the Great Lakes, stirring up gusty conditions that could reach 40-50 mph during showers. But it’s Thanksgiving Day that will have you bundling up for some serious cold, ushering in freezing temperatures and a side of lake-effect snow north of Pittsburgh. With an initially westerly flow, snow showers will mainly be focused north of our county warning area, the forecasters mentioned, hinting at a wintry start to the holiday.
Aviation interests take note: Patchy river valley fog is expected to mix out and dissipate after sunrise, which means clearer skies for today's flights, as stated by the National Weather Service. But as the week progresses, expect some disruptions. IFR to low MVFR restrictions and rain are expected Tuesday as a warm front lifts north across the region, and for those flying post-Thanksgiving, patchy cig restrictions and scattered snow showers are expected Thursday into Friday with subsequent upper troughing and cold W-NW flow.
No advisories are in place for now, but that could change as the cold front moves in and lake-effect snow becomes a concern later in the week. Keep those winter coats close and stay tuned for more updates as the week unfolds, with hopes of milder conditions resurfacing by Sunday.
