Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA

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566 FXUS61 KPBZ 290108 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 908 PM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Crossing disturbances will maintain shower and thunderstorm chances through Wednesday. Cooler than average temperatures are expected through Friday.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
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KEY MESSAGES: - Scattered showers and thunderstorms diminish this evening - Additional showers overnight with another approaching shortwave ------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional showers and thunderstorms have developed along a couple of outflow boundaries, generally in the vicinity of a line from PHD to PIT to LBE. The 00Z PIT sounding shows around 450 j/kg of surface based CAPE, with ML CAPE 100-200 j/kg. This has been sufficient to maintain showers and storms along these outflows, though the latest CAMS indicate the instability will continue to wane through the evening. A few of the more organized storms have produced small hail this evening, though this potential will also diminish with the waning instability. The latest mesoanalysis shows some lingering mid level troughing across western PA, though this will also shift eastward this evening. Partial clearing has occurred over portions of the area. This could result in patchy fog overnight, especially where rain occurred earlier. Cloud cover will increase again later tonight as the next shortwave approaches from the Great Lakes region, and this should help limit the coverage of the fog. Shower chances will also increase from W-E with the approach of the shortwave.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Rain and thunderstorms chances continue into Wednesday with a new disturbance. - Temperatures will continue to remain below average through Wednesday night. ------------------------------------------------------------------- An ejecting shortwave trough over the Midwest will initiate showers and thunderstorms Wednesday across the region. Instability and effective shear will be considered weak, MUCAPE 400J/kg to 800J/kg and less than 25kts. However, training storms could create a swath of heavy rain (between 0.45 to 0.65 inches) across the region during the late morning to late afternoon. Precipitation chances will quickly diminish between 9pm and 11pm Wednesday night with the loss of surface heating and the shortwave exiting east. Below average temperatures will continue Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night under cool, northwest flow. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry weather and cooler temperatures are expected Thursday into Friday under high pressure. - Rain chances may increase Sunday into Monday with a shift in the synoptic pattern. However, confidence is still considered low on timing and strength of the overall disturbance. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Surface high pressure builds into the area on Thursday. Dry, cool conditions will continue into early Friday. A ridge will advance into the Ohio River Valley late Friday into Saturday and return warm conditions. Thereafter, spread in the models increases regarding how quickly the upper ridge moves off/breaks down and how quickly deeper moisture returns. NBM suggests low PoPs for Sunday and Monday (30 to 40 percent) with temperature expectations of near to slightly above seasonal levels. Stout ridging in place as this next disturbance arrives may lead to a difficult forecast given the subsidence and drier air in place to start the new week. && .AVIATION /01Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Activity should continue to wane this evening. Widespread cig restrictions settle in early Wednesday morning with lingering low-level moisture and cold advection dominating. Hi-res ensemble guidance is suggesting high probabilities (70%+) for widespread MVFR/IFR and even medium probabilities (40-60%) of at least some instances of LIFR occurring at all area terminals. Another round of scattered to numerous showers also develops Wednesday morning as the upper trough axis finally rotates through the region. Another round of showers/storms is possible Wednesday afternoon, but lightning overage is expected to be minimal due to limited instability. Light and variable winds tonight become north-northwest around 5-10 knots on Wednesday. .Outlook... High pressure builds into the area Wednesday night through the end of the week, bringing VFR conditions back to the area through that time. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...WM/Hefferan NEAR TERM...WM SHORT TERM...Hefferan LONG TERM...Hefferan AVIATION...Cermak/22