Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Graphics & Text |  Print | Product List |  Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
459 FXUS61 KPBZ 282308 AAB AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 708 PM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Two passing shortwaves over the Great Lakes will keep rain and thunderstorm chances elevated today and tomorrow. Cooler than average temperatures are expected through Friday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
-- Changed Discussion --
KEY MESSAGES: - Scattered showers and thunderstorms diminish this evening - Additional showers overnight with another approaching shortwave ------------------------------------------------------------------- Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to decrease in coverage through the evening, with loss of diurnal instability and the passage of a shortwave trough. The latest mesoanalysis shows a ML CAPE around 250 j/kg, just enough to support a few thunderstorms. Small hail was likely in some of the more organized storms, though this potential will continue to diminish early this evening. Additional showers are expected to move across the area later tonight as another shortwave trough approaches. Patchy fog is possible where rain occurred earlier, though increasing clouds ahead of the next trough should limit the coverage. Lows are expected to be near seasonable levels. Previous Discussion: A deep upper-level trough is currently tracking trough the Great Lakes and Midwest region. Embedded with this large scale pattern is numerous shortwaves that will impact the Ohio River Valley. Rain intensity will decrease after 10pm with the loss of surface heating, but remnant showers may linger past midnight with the exiting shortwave and a new disturbance entering central Ohio.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .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 /23Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
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.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Hefferan NEAR TERM...WM/Hefferan SHORT TERM...Hefferan LONG TERM...Hefferan AVIATION...Cermak/22