Pittsburgh woke up on Wednesday, April 8 to a crisp, freezing start, with clear skies and temperatures hovering near 32°F in many neighborhoods. The chill will not last long. With bright sunshine locked in for most of the day, the city is on track for mostly sunny skies and a high near 62°F by mid to late afternoon, along with light east winds around 3 to 9 mph.
Afternoon Warmup
Once the sun gets to work, temperatures will climb steadily into the low 60s this afternoon, with a forecast high near 62°F. Skies stay mostly clear tonight, and the low should fall to around 39°F before a more noticeable warm surge arrives on Thursday. High pressure builds over the region through Thursday, which will help send highs into the low 70s while keeping winds on the lighter side. These numbers come from the National Weather Service in Moon Township; see the NWS Pittsburgh forecast.
Rain And Weekend Outlook
A weak front sliding in late Friday will bump up the odds for afternoon and evening showers, although rainfall totals are expected to stay on the lighter side. Friday’s high should land near 75°F. Saturday could start with a few early showers, then skies are expected to turn sunny with a high near 66°F. The warmest stretch shows up from Sunday into Tuesday, with highs climbing toward the upper 70s and low 80s. By Tuesday, the chance of showers and thunderstorms increases as the overall pattern turns more active into next week.
What To Expect For Commuters And Plans
For today’s commute, conditions look friendly: clear skies, dry roads, and a mild finish to the workday. You will still want a light layer for the freezing start this morning. On Friday, commuters should plan for the possibility of wet roads during the afternoon and evening, but a small umbrella or light rain jacket should be plenty since rainfall amounts are expected to be limited. For weekend planners, the only real hiccup appears to be a brief window of showers Saturday morning before sunshine returns and afternoons trend warmer again.
Advisories And River Notes
Allegheny County is free of watches and warnings, but the National Weather Service has freeze warnings in place until 10 a.m. EDT this morning for several nearby zones in Ohio and West Virginia. The latest forecast discussion also notes that river flooding has ended at Uhrichsville, while it continues at Coshocton. Anyone traveling toward those eastern areas should check the most recent river statements before heading out. For the latest watches and river statements see NWS Pittsburgh.
Bottom line: start the day bundled up for freezing temperatures, then peel back the layers for a sunny, mild afternoon, and keep an eye on that late Friday commute in case those showers move in right on schedule. Updates will follow if advisories change or if next week’s thunderstorm signal gets stronger.
