Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
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519 FXUS61 KPBZ 091150 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 650 AM EST Sun Nov 9 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Rain chances will become more widespread this morning and continue through the day as low pressure crosses the region. Rain showers will transition to snow showers later this evening as cooler air moves in behind the low. Accumulating snow could impact the higher terrain and areas along and north of I-80 Monday into Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... KEY MESSAGES: - Rain returns today - Changeover to snow from NW to SE later this evening and overnight --------------------------------------------------------------- 540 PM UPDATE: Expanded fog coverage in the morning forecast and the Special Weather Statement for pockets of dense fog this morning as recent clearing of mid and upper cloud coverage should result in more widespread coverage overall and pockets of visibilities under 1/4 mile. Previous discussion follows.. PREVIOUS.. Surface low pressure currently centered over Indiana will continue to track ENE this morning, and is progged to be over NW PA by midday and central NY state by this evening. Associated rain amounts are forecast to range from a tenth or less north and east of PGH to up to a quarter of an inch across our southeastern Ohio counties. This is over the course of the day so rain will be relatively light. Patchy fog is expected this morning ahead of the low with saturated low levels in the warm sector inversion, diminishing with increased winds and mixing on the backside of the low. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Snow showers expected through the period - Travel impacts could occur in areas under any lake-enhanced snow bands ---------------------------------------------------------------- From 9PM to shortly after midnight, rain will transition to snow from NW to SE as colder air advects in behind the mentioned low. As the low moves northeast into New York, north/northwesterly winds and relatively warm warm lake temperatures will set the stage for lake enhanced snow showers. Higher elevations in the Laurel Highlands and West Virginia might see light snow accumulation before midnight as well due to upsloping. Falling temperatures and snow showers are expected to continue into Monday. On average, 2" ground (sub sfc) temperatures are still in the low to mid 40s across the region, so only a few tenths of an inch (mainly on grass and elevated surfaces) are expected by sunrise on Monday. The deep upper-level trough will begin to transition over the region Monday. Despite some minor model differences, the picture remains the same that NW flow will bring scattered to numerous snow showers across portions of the OH Valley. 850mb temperatures are expected to drop to between -8 to -10 deg C by Monday, while Lake Erie temperatures hover around +12 to +14 deg C. Lake and terrain enhancement will be likely Monday night into Tuesday before flow backs to the W and the most efficient lake and terrain enhancement is turned north of the region. Additionally, the colder air aloft brings the DGZ down into the boundary layer, so more efficient snow growth is possible beginning Monday evening. Mesoscale features (such as a reinforcing surface trough) will greatly affect SFC to 850mb flow and thus the positioning, duration, and intensity of any heavier focused lake bands remains low confidence at this time. Despite this, models continue to hint at the likelihood of one or several lake bands yielding enhanced snowfall near and south of Lake Erie. Currently, the NBM has a 40%-60% both for north of I-80 and the PA and WV ridges (over 24hrs). Probabilities for warning level snow (>8" in 24hrs) is currently less than 10%. We will continue to monitor the evolution of this system and pattern over the coming forecast periods. In coordination with surrounding offices, have held off for now with any winter headlines, but wouldn`t be surprised if eventually something will be needed to address areas with lake enhancement and/or terrain enhancement. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Cold temperatures and snow showers continue Tuesday - Unsettled Wednesday and Thursday with occasional rain/snow chances mainly north of Pittsburgh - Apparent temperatures in the teens Tuesday morning ------------------------------------------------------------------- The surface trough is will shift to the northeast of the area on Tuesday, as boundary layer flow backs to the SW and snow chances decrease through the day. Broad upper troughing is then expected to persist across areas from the Upper Midwest into New England. Occasional rain/snow chances will be possible, mainly north of PIT, as individual shortwaves rotate through the trough. Temperatures are expected to be 15 to 20 degrees below average Monday and Tuesday, before moderating some by mid week. Near normal temperatures should return by the weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Patchy IFR-LIFR MVFR fog and stratus is expected this morning as partial clearing occurs with low level moisture in place. This should begin to improve after sunrise with limited mixing, and as additional cloud cover and showers track across the area. Otherwise, low pressure will track across OH and western PA later this morning into the afternoon, with showers and MVFR restrictions expected. The low will pull a cold front across the areas as it tracks NEWD. A decrease in shower activity is expected initially after FROPA, along with a WSHFT to the W-WSW. Continued MVFR cigs are expected to continue through late afternoon in cold advection behind the front. Additional showers, and IFR restrictions, are expected this evening as a deepening upper level low approaches the region. Critical thicknesses and model soundings indicate a changeover to snow showers is likely by late evening into the overnight hours in cold advection, as IFR continues. These reduced flight conditions are expected to continue through the end of the TAF period. Outlook... IFR should continue into Monday morning with snow showers, with some improvement to MVFR for most locations by afternoon as mixing lifts cig heights. By late afternoon, lake enhancement could result in localized IFR conditions in narrow snow bands, especially across wrn PA. These conditions are expected to continue into Tuesday before the upper low tracks NE of the area, and wind backs to the SW ending the lake enhancement. Patchy restrictions in snow are possible again Tuesday night in warm advection, before high pressure returns VFR for Thursday. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...88 NEAR TERM...88 SHORT TERM...Hefferan/88 LONG TERM...88/Lupo/AK AVIATION...WM/Shallenberger