Pittsburgh is waking up to a crisp but calm Saturday, with temperatures near 36°F at 5:35 a.m. ET and sunshine expected to stick around through the afternoon. The high should top out near 50°F, but the real story is the roller-coaster still to come: a warm, windy Sunday on March 15 followed by a sharp cold front Monday night, March 16, that could send readings into the low 20s and flip rain to snow for a short window. Those fast changes, plus the gusty conditions Sunday into Monday, are the key issues for anyone planning to be outside.
Today's Forecast
Look for sunny skies with a high near 50°F and northwest winds of 7 to 12 mph, with afternoon gusts up to about 22 mph. Clouds build back in tonight, which will be mostly cloudy with a low around 39°F and lighter northeast breezes. These timing and wind details follow the forecast from the National Weather Service.
Sunday Into Monday
Sunday, March 15 is the brief taste of spring, with highs near 70°F and southeast winds of 9 to 20 mph. Gusts could push into the upper 30s and may increase late Sunday into Sunday night. By Monday, March 16, showers and a chance of thunderstorms are likely as the strong frontal system moves through, with south winds around 21 mph and strong gusts ahead of the front. As the front passes Monday night, rain is expected to change to snow, with only minor accumulations likely. Forecasters note there is a non-negligible chance that some storms or post-frontal winds could produce stronger gusts, so residents should pay attention to overnight updates.
Impacts And Advice
Main local impacts include gusty winds that can toss around unsecured outdoor items, a brief period of heavy rain or an isolated thunderstorm on Monday that could bring strong gusts, and a short burst of wet snow on Monday night that may make bridges slick. It is a good weekend to secure patio furniture, tarps, and trash cans, and to plan a little extra travel time for Monday morning in case of downed branches or slick spots. For background on how fast swings like this have played out recently in the area, see our February weather roller-coaster.
