As Pittsburgh wakes up to a wet Christmas morning, residents can look forward to improving weather conditions later in the day. This morning's showers and potential thunder are expected to clear out, leading to mostly cloudy skies but with temperatures still managing to remain above average. According to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA, rain showers will wrap up from north to south through the late morning and into the afternoon with subsidence squashing the moisture depth and forcing departing. Despite the cloud cover, afternoon highs in the region will hover comfortably in the 40s and 50s.
But don't get too settled into the holiday calm. Another strong weather system is gearing up to bring an assortment of precipitation just north and east of the Steel City on Friday. Areas south of Pittsburgh should mostly see rain, whereas further north, closer to the I-80 corridor, might have to deal with a wintry mix, including freezing rain. Plans to travel, or to simply venture out, might have to be rethought. The National Weather Service has already issued a Winter Storm Watch for several counties with the advisement that, impactful winter system on Friday brings rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
By Saturday, conditions seem set to give Pittsburgh a brief respite from precipitation with dry weather and moderating temperatures. But, as we all know too well, a Pittsburgh winter is not one to hold its breath for long. Come Sunday, another system is on the horizon. The specifics are yet to be bulletproof, but there's a chance of less winter precipitation locally, with the usual north of I-80 areas gearing up for the possibility of some accumulating snow as early as next week.
In terms of aviation, those trying to jet in or out of Pittsburgh could experience delays or cancellations. The National Weather Service outlined that MVFR/IFR restrictions this morning in the wake of last night's rainfall, improving to VFR by afternoon. However, come Friday, travelers should be prepared for restrictions and precipitation to return, potentially starting as freezing rain at several airports before transitioning to all rain. With so much riding on the weather, those festive travels might well get tricky, so keep an eye on updates and prepare to be flexible with your plans.
