Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA

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934 FXUS61 KPBZ 241521 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1121 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dry conditions today outside of chance of a few showers or thunderstorms mainly south of the Mason Dixon line. The risk for more widespread showers and storms return Saturday afternoon. Sunday may be dry as high pressure moves across the Mid- Atlantic region. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: -Lingering showers from a passing shortwave may last through late morning south of Pittsburgh, PA. -Probability of showers and storms later this afternoon and evening south of the Mason-Dixon line. _____________________________________________________________ A Mid-Atlantic shortwave will move south and east this morning. With the wave moving further away from the region, the stalled front will then be able to sink further south, perhaps as far south as central WV. Shower or storm development is still possible along the boundary this morning, but this risk will also drift southward and by afternoon any additional convection would likely be confined to the mountains of northern WV. The exiting shortwave will allow for height rises over the region this afternoon. High pressure at the surface will slide eastward underneath the ridge. This will mean plenty of sunshine and above normal temperatures. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: -A crossing shortwave will return the risk for showers and storms Saturday. _____________________________________________________________ Ridging will break down across the Ohio River Valley early Saturday as an ejecting low out of the northern Dakotas tracks into the Great Lakes. With a flux of low-lvl moisture Saturday morning, our environment has the potential to support storm development Saturday afternoon as a weak shortwave trough swings through. Some models are suggesting a lack of a trigger despite a decent environment. So confidence is still low on how much development will occur and how strong it will become. Another weak ridge will cross the region on Sunday. This should keep most of the area dry. Popup storms cannot be completely ruled out Sunday, but most of this may be confined to the higher elevations. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Variability remains high on long term forecast and may be predicated on prior day`s convective outcomes. - Overall, periodic showers and thunderstorms with slightly above normal temperature is favored through the holiday weekend and into next week. ____________________________________________________________ A strong, well-organized low pressure system is becoming the favored pattern towards the end of holiday weekend in the Ohio River Valley. Timing and the position of the center of the low, along with environmental moisture profiles, are currently not in phase between the long range models and some of the newer runs of the CAMs. There is a very large difference between 800J/kg (GFS) to 3000J/kg (NAM). At the moment, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has focused the convection outlook southwest of our county warning area. Long range suggests a shift to a cooler, dry pattern by the middle of next week as upper troughing develops over the Great Lakes. Expect temperature to fall below the seasonal average, with Tuesday potentially being the transition day from shower activity to dry weather. && .AVIATION /16Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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Low VFR / high MVFR cu will persist through the afternoon (primarily south of KPIT), with light winds under the influence of high pressure through the TAF period. .Outlook... Shower and thunderstorm chances return Saturday afternoon and evening, but may be dependent on evolution of storms that occur across the western Great Lakes. Any thunderstorm poses a risk for gusty, erratic winds and lowered visibilities. Thunderstorm probabilities are highest late Sunday into Monday as a more robust low pressure system moves through the Great Lake region. A pattern shift thereafter will introduce periodic precipitation chances and potential for more prolonged cig restrictions.
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&& .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Hefferan NEAR TERM...Hefferan SHORT TERM...Hefferan/22 LONG TERM...Hefferan AVIATION...Rackley/Frazier/88