Brace yourselves, Pittsburgh: a significant winter wallop is headed your way. According to the latest National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA area forecast, the Winter Storm Watch has been escalated to a Winter Storm Warning for the entire forecast area. Additionally, the Cold Weather Advisory for tonight into Saturday morning has been expanded to include all forecast zones, with the probability for higher snow amounts continuing to trend up.
For those counting on a break from the cold, don't hold your breath — a prolonged period of cold temperatures, starting from today and stretching through next week, is forecast. Temperatures are expected to plummet tonight to the coldest they've been this season, with lows ranging between 5 below and 5 above zero. Due to the biting winds, which will push wind chills to between 10 and 20 below for most of the region, every forecast zone is now under a Cold Weather Advisory.
In terms of snow, Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas are staring down the barrel of a recipe for significant snow. Forecasters predict a deep, saturated dendritic growth zone, coupled with moisture levels at the 90th percentile for late January, to support snowfall totals that could see a noteworthy alteration in the city's daily routines. The heaviest snow is expected during the day Sunday, potentially tapering off that night, with the cold northwesterly flow and a parent upper trough possibly ushering in additional flurries into Monday.
Given the approaching storm, aviation is on high alert. Widespread IFR/LIFR is expected to develop in snow beginning by Saturday evening, continuing through at least the first half of Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The snow intensity could result in 1/2 to 1 inch per hour snowfall rates from late Saturday night into Sunday. Airports are anticipating a widespread 8-15 inches of snow, with localized areas potentially seeing higher accumulations.
It's not just everyday life that the winter blast is turning upside down — records could tumble as well. A winter storm and anomalously cold airmass will challenge some area records for daily maximum snowfall, daily cold temperatures, and duration of cold temperatures, as detailed by the National Weather Service. As Pittsburgh digs out from what might be a historical snow event, residents should ensure they're prepared for lengthy bouts of subfreezing temperatures and treacherous travel conditions.
