Pittsburgh woke up in the clouds this morning, with dense fog, patchy rain and temperatures stuck in the mid 50s. In some spots, visibility has dropped to roughly a quarter mile, turning the morning commute into a slow crawl.
Dense Fog Advisory and the Morning Commute
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has a Dense Fog Advisory in effect through 10 a.m., warning of visibilities of a quarter mile or less and hazardous driving conditions. Forecasters say rounds of rain today could add up to roughly a half to three-quarters of an inch, with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Drivers should expect slower travel and reduced sight lines, especially as bridges and river valleys fill in with fog. These details come from NWS Pittsburgh.
Rain Timing and Tonight
Showers are expected to hang around into tonight, with a low near 57°F and the highest chance of rain early in the night before it backs off to patchy fog. Friday looks somewhat drier in spots, with highs near 71°F and only a small chance of light rain, although a few spotty showers could still pop up. For background on how this pattern set up, see soup-thick fog strangling rush hour.
Weekend Warmup and Severe-Storm Risk
By Saturday, temperatures jump quickly into the 70s, and forecasters note the potential for record or near-record highs along with a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms. Damaging winds would be the main concern, with gusts possibly approaching 28 mph. The Storm Prediction Center has included the region in that risk, and rounds of showers and storms could arrive Saturday into Saturday night. Keep plans flexible and monitor updates from NWS Pittsburgh.
Practical Tips For Commuters
In dense fog, use low-beam headlights, ease off the gas, and leave extra space between cars. High beams can actually make visibility worse. Avoid driving through standing water - if a road looks flooded, turn around and find another way. Check conditions before you head out and build in extra time for river crossings and bridge approaches. This story will be updated if advisories change.
