Pittsburgh residents might want to brace themselves for a bit of a weather rollercoaster in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Forecasters are predicting an uptick in temperatures and moisture, with showers and potentially gusty thunderstorms on the horizon for tomorrow. But don't get too comfy with the warmth; a brisk, cooler shift is expected by Sunday, complete with northwest-flow showers and the possibility of lake effect snow north of I-80 come Sunday night into Monday.
For today, things are looking mild and breezy with rain chance increasing, and by this evening, residents – especially those in eastern Tucker County, WV – should watch for spotty thunderstorms with strong wind gusts that could reach up to 50 mph over the ridges. The National Weather Service advises that there is a non-zero chance of strong/severe thunderstorms with gusty winds, particularly this evening, as the area falls under a marginal risk of damaging winds.
As we roll into Sunday, the forecast doesn't get any less eventful, a blustery and colder day is on deck with showers persisting. Wind gusts could ramp up to 55 mph over the east Tucker County, WV ridges, and lake effect snow is looking more and more probable later into the evening and the start of the week. For those residing north of I-80, expect 2-5 inches of snow with a Lake Snow Advisory likely in the cards as confidence in this prediction continues to rise.
Looking toward the long term, the weather pattern is slated to stick around early into the week, keeping temperatures on the cooler side. But don't pack away those lighter jackets just yet. By mid to late week, a warming trend is anticipated to bring temps back above normal, yet potentially at the cost of a rather wet pattern. In terms of precipitation, the National Weather Service forecasts a range from 0.50-1.50 inches in the northeast edge of the region.
The conditions also signal significant impacts for aviation through the period, with increasing moisture and MVFR ceilings spreading across the terminals. Expect gusty winds, initially from the southwest, to pick up through the day, possibly accompanied by brief convection and gusty winds along or ahead of the front. Post-frontal lake-enhanced precipitation and persisting MVFR cigs at FKL/DUJ are likely into Sunday afternoon, with another weather disturbance potentially bringing mixed rain and snow by Tuesday.
For those in the region, it's recommended to stay tuned to local weather updates and advisories, such as the Wind Advisory issued for WVZ514 from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Monday, and to prepare for a variable and weather pattern that'll keep everyone on their toes.
