Pittsburgh residents, brace yourselves for a switch from mild to gusty, as a high-pressure system makes its way out and a cold front barrels in. According to the latest update from the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, expect today's dry spell to give way to precipitation by evening, with rain transitioning to snow on Friday. Those above-average temperatures we've been enjoying, up to 15 degrees higher than usual, are taking a dip post-front.
For those in eastern Tucker County, be on high alert come nighttime; a Wind Advisory is in effect from midnight tonight until midnight EST Friday night due to forecasted gusts reaching up to 55 mph. The region is set to experience not just a drop in temperature but also a sharp increase in surface winds, which will be gusty elsewhere, so secure your holiday decorations. The National Weather Service predicts between 0.30" and 0.50" of rain, turning to light snow accumulations due to low snow-to-liquid ratios and a saturated boundary layer lacking in the DGZ, until Friday evening.
As we look towards the weekend, Saturday will usher in dry and seasonable temperatures once again. But if you're planning any late-night outings, note that there's a slight chance of rain/snow come Saturday night into Sunday. This, however, mainly concerns those north of Pittsburgh, keeping the city largely dry.
Looking ahead, a milder pattern is expected next week, with precipitation chances edging back into the forecast Monday night through Wednesday. And for those concerned with air travel, VFR conditions are forecasted to hold through this evening, but with increasing clouds. Strong ESE to S winds with gusts up to 25kt during the day can be expected, which may strengthen further as the evening progresses and the front draws closer. However, by nightfall, the conditions will shift: "rain, including potential for an embedded line of convective showers, arrives with the cold frontal passage occurring after 02z," the National Weather Service advised.
For aviators, from Thursday night into Friday, anticipate a high likelihood for MVFR due to strong cold advection following the cold front's traversal. Wind speeds are projected to crest during daylight on Friday, with gusts potentially exceeding the standard rates, especially in higher terrains. The precipitation will transition to snow by Friday morning, but is expected to settle primarily on non-paved surfaces. VFR conditions should resume by Friday night, sustaining until a minor frontal system potentially brings about precipitation and flight restrictions late Saturday into Sunday. WVZ514 should particularly note the Wind Advisory in effect during this period.
