


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
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020 FXUS61 KPBZ 031656 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1256 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A trough will drop south into the area bringing a chance of unsettled weather today. Starting Friday, the region will be under the influence of high pressure through the next few days. Fog development is possible during the morning each day. On Monday, an unsettled pattern will return to the region. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Isolated showers and thunderstorms. - Mainly river valley fog expected tonight. --------------------------------------------------------------- The tail end of a cold front is expected to move through the northern counties of Pennsylvania starting this afternoon bringing a round of showers and thunderstorms to the area. The NBM gives a 25%- 30% chance of thunderstorms for this area. The timing for the potential will be between 3PM and 8PM. The probability for SB CAPE of 1000 J/kg is about 60%-80% as the front moves through the area. This combined with an elevated dry air mass brings in a Marginal Risk for wind for PA counties along the Appalachians. Heading into the overnight, a lingering shower or storm can`t be ruled out. High pressure will take over again with clearing skies tonight and easing the winds. With calm wind and clear skies, there is a potential for fog, impacts are mainly expected in river valleys with the warm water and cooler air temperature. Low temperatures are expected to be slightly below normal. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry and sunny weather for the Fourth. - Chance for fog on Friday and Saturday mornings. - Temperatures above average. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Surface high pressure and ridging aloft should promote mainly dry and warm weather again Friday and Saturday. The highs for Friday will only make it into the mid 80s. Rising heights and southerly flow on Saturday should boost area highs into the upper 80s to near 90F. NBM probs for 90F are highest across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia panhandle, and the Pittsburgh urban heat island (65%-85%). For Lawrence, Beaver, southern Armstrong, and northwestern Westmoreland counties, probabilities for 90F are generally around 30%-40%. Outside of these regions, the probability for these temperatures are lower with no chance in most of the areas along the Appalachian Mountains. On Sunday, the ridge is forecast to flatten with westerly flow aloft across the Upper Ohio Valley region. The 500 mb heights are expected to approach 590 dam, maintaining hot conditions across the region. There is a high probability across most of the region (75%-95%) that maximum temperatures reach or exceed 90F. The heat indices remain in the 90s, so there is a low chance for a Heat Advisory being issued. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Shower and thunderstorm chances returning Sunday night and Monday. - Increasingly hot and humid conditions on Monday - Post frontal rain chances remain on Tuesday and Wednesday. ------------------------------------------------------------------- With the flattened ridge, disturbances embedded in the flow aloft are expected to periodically cross the region, with daily shower and thunderstorm chances returning. On Monday, 500 mb heights are still expected to be around 590 dam, allowing hot and humid conditions to persist across most of the region. High probability (60%-75%) of maximum temperatures at or above 90 degrees. The chances of Heat Advisory criteria remains low as heat indices remain in the 90s. Temperatures are expected to relax for the Tuesday and Wednesday period due to the passage of a cold front Monday night. This will allow cooler air into the region with the potential of some lingering chances for precip behind the front. There is a lack of confidence with this pattern. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... VFR conditions prevail throughout the forecast period at most terminals, with a scattered to broken diurnal cu field (cigs generally 5-7kft AGL) developing by late morning. A few isolated showers and storms will be possible this afternoon, mainly east and northeast of Pittsburgh, though a few could also develop across northern West Virginia in the evening. Right now, the only terminal with probabilities worth mentioning in the TAFs is DUJ, where a PROB30 has been maintained to reflect the most likely timing of 18z-22z. Any thunderstorms that do form will be capable of producing strong wind gusts and frequent lightning in addition to local reductions to vis/cigs in heavy downpours. Convection tapers after sunset along with the diurnal cu field, giving way to a quiet and dry night with only some passing high clouds. Patchy fog is possible towards sunrise Friday; included TEMPOs at terminals that currently have the highest probabilities of seeing impacts. Outlook... VFR is expected through Sunday as high pressure moves across the region. Precipitation chances and isolated restrictions return Sunday night into Monday. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Shallenberger/Lupo NEAR TERM...Shallenberger/Lupo SHORT TERM...Lupo LONG TERM...Shallenberger/Lupo AVIATION...Cermak/AK