As the folks in Pittsburgh woke up this morning, they were greeted with a typical winter day; however, things are set to get a bit frostier. In a report by the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, a morning cold front is expected to switch up the drizzle to snow while temperatures take a nosedive throughout the day. If you were planning to take a hike up in the higher terrain, think twice. Gusty winds are about to peak early this afternoon, strong enough to make your teeth chatter, before they start to calm down later on.
But let's break it down a bit more. What's actually happening? Well, you've got this upper trough moving in and kind of tilting to the side as it rolls into the upper Ohio River Valley region. This movement is pushing a cold front eastward, replacing the earlier rain with snow by noon. The National Weather Service warns of localized/brief 40-50mph gusts that could catch you by surprise. Don’t fret about snow piling up on your sidewalks. The accumulation is said to be mainly limited to "grassy surfaces."
For those bracing for intense snowfall, it seems the conditions aren't quite right for a winter wonderland just yet. A mix of cold air and some lift from the mountains could spell out a little bit of accumulation in the WV high terrain, but the strong winds are tossing snowflakes around like confetti. Plus, the warm ground from earlier rain means what does fall doesn't stick around for long. When it comes to visibility, though, that's another story. You might squint through some flurries, especially if you're cruising through the high terrain.
Now, fast-forwarding to the weekend, you're looking at a brief breather. Saturday will be dry with a gentle uptick in temperatures, so maybe that's your window for a brisk walk or some errands. Come Sunday, a new front rolls in, knocking the thermometer back down a few degrees, but leaving us mostly dry. In terms of next week’s wardrobe, the forecast expects a warmer trend with periodic rain, more than any frosty surprises.
If you're worried about flights or travel plans, remember that gusty winds are no friend to aircraft. The National Weather Service flags rain transitions to snow showers early Friday; gusty WSW winds continue throughout the day. By the time the weekend wraps up, things should settle back to VFR for most areas. So, whether you're taking to the skies or keeping your feet on the snowy ground, keep your hat on tight – it sounds like Mother Nature isn't quite done with the whirlwind yet.
