Steel City is bracing for a bit of weather whiplash as gusty winds and rain take the stage today, before giving way to some brief reprieve and then doubling down with potential snow showers come Sunday night into early next week. According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, the cold front sweeping through will stir up showers and notably higher wind speeds today, with gusts ranging from 30-35 mph expected by this afternoon.
The onslaught of clouds this morning is but a harbinger as surface low pressure treks from the Midwest across the Great Lakes to Ontario and, with a couple of atmospheric shenanigans in tow, the ascent increases, bringing rain showers from west to east across the region. Despite the flaring up of showers and that mischievous breeze, thunderstorms seem unlikely south of I-70 since, while the conditions are ripe with shear, the instability is just too weak to fuss over severe weather prospects.
For those planning an evening outing, keep the umbrellas handy as showers persist while the cold front marches on. Shower activity is expected to wind down overnight, leaving Saturday mostly dry as an intermission between frontal disturbances—so Saturday's your day if you've got errands or a craving for a peaceful walk in the park. Don't get too comfy, though, because the National Weather Service has forecasted that more rain is on its way for Sunday, followed by temperatures taking a tumble as the rain could turn into the season's first snow dance by Sunday night, focusing on areas mainly on grass and elevated surfaces where minor snow accumulation is possible.
Looking ahead into next week, prepare to bundle up as it's going to get significantly colder with snow showers likely through Monday and Tuesday. Snow accumulation is a possibility, especially north of I-80 and in the ridges, and while the probabilities of advisory-level snow are nuanced and contingent on evolving mesoscale features, it's something that could affect your Monday morning commute, with temperatures forecasted to be 15 to 20 degrees below average early in the week. The weather chaos is anticipated to stabilize somewhat by mid-week, although broad upper troughing could mean occasional rain or snow for areas, mainly north of Pittsburgh.
For the aviophiles and frequent fliers out there, the aviation outlook is a bit turbulent — VFR conditions will hold this morning before showers impact visibility this afternoon, and winds may cause some issues. After the boundary layer deepens with mixing, surface wind gusts should increase to between 20 and 30 knots through the afternoon, noted the forecast, anticipating conditions that could snarl operations at local airports. As always, please check with your carrier for any potential weather-related delays before heading to the airport.
