Pittsburgh wakes up to clear skies and a cool start on Thursday, April 9, with early morning temperatures in the low 40s. By late afternoon, it will feel much warmer, with highs climbing into the mid 70s, around 74°F, under sunny skies. South winds start light to moderate, then increase through the day. Tonight stays mostly clear with a low near 51°F, while frost and freeze products remain in effect farther north into parts of West Virginia until 10 a.m.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Southerly winds are expected to increase this afternoon to around 6 to 10 mph, with pockets of stronger gusts. Exposed spots could see gusts up to 20 to 30 mph. River corridors and hilltops may turn noticeably blustery, so it is a good idea to secure loose patio furniture and other outdoor items. Drivers, especially those in high-profile vehicles, should use extra caution on bridges during the evening commute, according to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh.
Fire Weather And Open Burning
Low afternoon humidity, dropping into the mid 20s to low 30s, teamed with those breezes, will elevate fire risk each afternoon through the end of the week. Allegheny County restricts most open burning without a permit and bans wood burning on Air Quality Action days, so anyone planning yard burns should hold off and follow local rules. For details and permit information, see Allegheny County Open Burning.
Showers Friday Night, Warm Week Ahead
A weak front may clip the area late Friday, but the better chance for showers arrives Friday night into early Saturday, from Friday, April 10, into Saturday, April 11. Expect mostly cloudy skies and a 30 to 50 percent chance of light rain. Rain totals should stay on the light side, generally under a tenth of an inch. The pattern turns more unsettled next week, with highs rising into the upper 70s and low 80s from Sunday, April 12, through Tuesday, April 14, and increased thunderstorm chances around Tuesday night into Wednesday, April 15, per the National Weather Service Pittsburgh.
For more background on how the warm surge has built this week, see our April 8 update on how the warm surge built. Updates will follow if any advisories change, and residents are encouraged to enable phone alerts to get the latest on rapidly changing or hazardous conditions.
