Pittsburgh residents can expect a pretty average weekend when it comes to weather, at least according to the National Weather Service. Today's forecast shows a cool start but seasonable finish for temperature, with sunshine potentially taking a day off north of the city.
Today's weather pattern is influenced by a weak shortwave moving north and a broad trough in the western Great Lakes, but don't expect precipitation—just some clouds creeping in along and north of I-70. With the surface high pressure holding over the Atlantic Coast, a warm advection is supposedly setting us up for a bit of a temperature rise by afternoon, though it started below normal this morning. Pittsburgh will see dry conditions rolling through tonight as the shortwave buzzes north and introduces a dry surface cold front into the region during the overnight hours.
Looking ahead to Sunday, things are likely to feel virtually unchanged behind that cold front, with temps taking a bit of a nosedive and bringing wind chill values into the teens to 20s range. While Monday promises a dry spell, don't pack away the winter gear just yet. By Monday night and heading into Tuesday, we're looking at a rain/snow mix moving in that the National Weather Service suggests will trend more toward rain as the day progresses.
There's a little hiccup in the forecast, which is showing a notable 20% probability of seeing accumulating freezing rain near the I-80 corridor, despite the high confidence that we won’t be shoveling snow off our driveways. As the week pushes on, a high-pressure ridge is slated to bump temperatures up well above normal readings, though rain chances are somewhat sketchy and will remain dependent on the timing and paths of any shortwaves.
For those hitting the skies, the aviation outlook remains clear with "VFR with LLWS overnight." Flights should be running smoothly throughout the day, while pilots might face a bit more challenge come nighttime due to heightened pressure gradients and low-level wind shear. Widespread travel restrictions don't seem imminent, but keep an eye on Monday night into Tuesday, as the incoming weather could put a dent in those plans.
