As of 5:40 a.m. EDT Friday, April 24, 2026, Pittsburgh is waking up under mostly cloudy skies and a mild 61°F. A warm front is already nudging into the region and will send temperatures soaring into the low 80s this afternoon, but a trailing cold front overnight is set to flip the script with a rising chance of showers and thunderstorms into Saturday.
Afternoon Heat And Friday Night Storm Chance
On Friday, April 24, the high is expected to reach near 83°F, with mostly sunny skies away from the warm front and only a slight chance of an isolated shower or thunderstorm after about 7 a.m. West winds will stay on the lighter side, around 2 to 9 mph. From late Friday into early Saturday, April 24–25, the chance for showers and thunderstorms ramps up to about 50 percent, with the greatest risk roughly between 10 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday.
Most neighborhoods will likely pick up only light rain, with new amounts generally under a tenth of an inch. Any brief thunderstorm, though, could squeeze out heavier downpours and gusty winds for a quick hit of rough weather.
Saturday Cooldown And Weekend Outlook
Saturday, April 25, will feel noticeably cooler, with the high dropping to around 71°F. Showers and thunderstorms are likely through much of the day, with the overall rain chance near 80 percent. The rain should gradually pull away Saturday evening, with most of the steady precipitation expected to exit between about 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday night lows will slide toward 48°F.
Sunday, April 26, looks like a relative breather. Expect partly sunny skies, a high near 66°F, and only a slight chance of showers in the morning before drier conditions take over.
Commute, Draft Events, And Staying Dry
If you have outdoor plans downtown, including anything tied to the NFL Draft running April 23–25, be ready for on-and-off wet pockets that could slow surface travel and briefly interrupt activities. Rain gear will be your best friend, and it is wise to pad your schedule with extra travel time.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit set up special free Football Flyer bus routes for the draft, according to Axios Pittsburgh, and those routes may come in handy for navigating around crowded event zones. For shorter trips, keep an eye on live radar and be ready to duck indoors if a thunderstorm pops up. Avoid flooded streets, and use extra caution on bridges during heavier downpours.
Looking Ahead To Early Next Week
Another low-pressure disturbance could swing through by Tuesday, April 28, bringing more rain and a renewed chance of thunderstorms, with a brief window for stronger storms ahead of the next cold front. You will want to keep tabs on the latest forecast from the National Weather Service for updated timing and any watches or warnings.
Forecasters note that marginal instability and some shear could support locally strong storms, mainly south of I-70. If severe weather alerts are issued, move indoors, avoid flooded roadways, and secure any loose outdoor items before the gusts roll through.
