Wednesday morning in Pittsburgh (May 20) is starting clear and mild, about 64°F at the Allegheny County airport, but the calm will not last. A cold front will move through today, bringing a good chance of showers and thunderstorms between mid-morning and early afternoon and a daytime high near 76°F before readings fall into the mid-60s. Stronger cells could produce brief heavy downpours and gusty winds in places, so expect slower travel and slick, sticky roads during the peak of the storms.
Afternoon Storms: Timing And Where
Forecasters are calling for a slight chance of storms before 7 a.m., then steadier showers and scattered thunderstorms roughly between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Many neighborhoods should see only a few tenths of an inch of rain, though isolated heavier pockets are possible. The conditional threat for brief damaging wind gusts is greatest southeast of the city this afternoon, and winds will shift northwest behind the front, cooling the rest of the day. While localized heavy downpours could reduce visibility, widespread flooding is not expected from today’s round.
Memorial Day Weekend: Soaker Likely
Forecast guidance has trended wetter for the Memorial Day holiday, with model output showing an increasing chance for soaking rain Friday into Monday and a 50 to 65% likelihood of two inches or more across much of the area in higher-end scenarios. According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, that signal raises the possibility of river and creek impacts in heavier cases and is worth monitoring as plans firm up. For background on how this pattern developed, see our one-day sun break.
Plan Ahead
If you have outdoor plans for the holiday weekend, make a backup plan: Friday’s rain could be the heaviest day and Friday night into Saturday offers the best chance for the largest totals. Keep an eye on local radar and avoid driving through standing water; repeated heavy bands over the same spot would be the main way flooding problems develop. Small streams and low-lying streets are the most likely places to see quick rises if heavy rain sets up repeatedly.
We will update this space if watches or warnings are issued. For now, carry rain gear for today’s commute and check forecasts before heading out on holiday plans.
