Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA

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994 FXUS61 KPBZ 310114 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 914 PM EDT Thu May 30 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dry weather and moderating temperature are expected through Saturday under the influence of high pressure. Late Saturday through early next week will feature scattered showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures climb back above normal early next week with lower to mid 80s forecast. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
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KEY MESSAGES: - Clear skies under high pressure - Mid/upper 30 lows forecast tonight across the higher terrain and I-80 corridor. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest surface analysis shows high pressure centered across the Great Lakes region. The 00Z upper air charts shows a mid and upper level trough across much of the NE CONUS, though a lack of moisture precluded any significant cloud cover or precipitation. The 00Z PIT sounding shows dry air through the entire column. Efficient radiational cooling is expected tonight with the dry air and clear skies in place. In addition, wind should become calm overnight as the high builds further eastward. Maintained the Frost Advisory as is for eastern Tucker county, with some patchy frost surrounding the advisory area, and in Forest county PA. Coverage of the frost outside of the advisory should be patchy and limited. Overnight lows should br in the lower to mid 30s across eastern Tucker county, with upper 30s to lower 40s elsewhere. Went with the lower 10th percentile of the NBM guidance for lows with the efficient radiational cooling expected.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry weather persists with moderating temperature. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Little sensible change in pattern is expected on Friday as the ridge axis slowly creeps east across the Great Lakes and into the Ohio Valley. After a cool start to the morning, high pressure will sunny skies will allow temperatures to moderate back to near normal Friday afternoon. Much of the area is forecast to hit mid-70s Friday afternoon. The ridge axis will cross the CWA Friday night as surface high pressure begins to shift east. This will boost southerly return flow into Saturday ahead of our next system. The result will be gradually increasing cloud cover through the day Saturday, with afternoon temperatures pushing into the lower 80s outside of the I-80 corridor and ridges. A few showers may be creeping into our far western zones near ZZV by late afternoon Saturday, but for now, timing for rain with the next system appears to be later overnight into Sunday. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Shower and thunderstorm chances return Saturday night. - Periodic rain chances are then expected for much of next week. - Temperatures rebound back toward normal by Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------- There is good ensemble agreement in the aforementioned ridge shifting east on Saturday as shortwave troughing crosses into the Ohio Valley. This shortwave will cross our area overnight into Sunday, with a weak low and cold front at the surface. Showers and thunderstorms are expected by Saturday night, lingering through Sunday. Nocturnal arrival and excessive cloud cover Sunday should keep lightning probabilities lower (along with severe threats). Clouds and rain will also keep afternoon temperatures a bit cooler on Sunday. Quick passage of the trough should lend to broad ridge development just south of the region Monday into Tuesday. This synoptic pattern would favor above normal temperature with low probability afternoon thunderstorms that will be predicated on shortwave movement and convective evolution over the western Great Lakes. Much variability in outcomes is seen within model ensembles, which muddies any chance of entertaining severe probabilities. There is growing consensus on the development of a notable upper low pressure system mid to late week that would pose a far greater probability for convective development and, to some extent, severe chances. However, there remains high uncertainty in the timing and eventual evolution of that system. && .AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... A prolong period of VFR conditions is expected under high pressure through Saturday. FKL may experience a period of early morning fog with radiational cooling between 10Z to 12Z Friday. However, confidence is not high on this scenario; probability of occurrence noted in the Hi-Res guidance is less than 20%. .Outlook... The potential for flight restrictions returns late Sat and Sun with crossing low pressure. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Friday for WVZ514. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Frazier NEAR TERM...WM SHORT TERM...Rackley LONG TERM...Rackley/Frazier AVIATION...Hefferan