Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas are bracing for a wintry blast this weekend, according to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, which has forecasted widespread snow returning Saturday afternoon into early Sunday, with snowfall rates potentially reaching up to an inch per hour in some areas. The heaviest accumulation is expected south of Pittsburgh, where a Winter Storm Warning has been issued, according to their latest briefing.
For those living north and east of Pittsburgh, the temperatures are likely to hover in the mid teens, while folks south and west can expect slightly warmer lows in the low to mid 20s; meanwhile, an Alberta clipper system is set to move through the Ohio River Valley, spreading dry and fluffy snow that could compound into hazardous travel conditions with reduced visibility—a wintry force that seems determined to remind residents of the season's frosty grasp. Lake effect snow is slated to follow, extending the wintry conditions into Sunday night, particularly affecting counties near I-80, which will retain their Winter Weather Advisory status to account for the ongoing snowfall.
As the week begins, the region will not find much reprieve from the cold, with temperatures expected to be around 20 degrees below average on Monday. In anticipation of these frigid conditions, a Cold Weather Advisory has been put in place for Eastern Tucker County, WV, with wind chill values forecasted to be particularly biting, dropping as low as -10F in certain parts, the National Weather Service predicts.
The bout of cold and snowy weather is, however, expected to be a short-lived affront as the region is projected to warm up later in the week with temperatures rebounding to well above average, this shift brings with it an increased likelihood of rain, particularly from December 20th to December 23rd, creating a stark contrast to the starkly frigid start of the week—a typical capricious dance of northeastern winter climes. The aviation outlook is similarly grim, with widespread snow projected to bring LIFR conditions this afternoon into the evening, and scattered snow showers expected to persist through Monday morning due to cold NW flow off of the Great Lakes.
Travelers and residents are urged to stay informed through weather advisories and to prepare accordingly for the inclement weather heading into the weekend. The latest winter weather advisories, storm warnings, and cold weather alerts can be found on the National Weather Service website.
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