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. --
946 FXUS61 KPBZ 292130 AAA AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 530 PM EDT Wed May 29 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will dissipate this evening. Dry weather returns Thursday through Saturday as high pressure builds with cooler than average temperatures. An unsettled but warmer pattern looks to take hold by late weekend into next week.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
-- Changed Discussion --
KEY MESSAGES: - Scattered showers and thunderstorms expected through the evening hours. ------------------------------------------------------------------- An update to cover PoPs for the rest of the evening hours. Seeing a decrease in coverage and intensity over the last hour. However, there are still so many lingering outflow boundaries that new activity could popup just about anywhere. Expect the bulk of the new development to be south and east of Pittsburgh where most of the remnant outflow boundaries rest. Sunset will also help to quiet the atmosphere. Made minor changes to cloud cover and updated overnight lows. Previous discussion... Exiting of the upper level trough axis to the east will see surface high pressure and subsidence build during the evening and overnight hours. The expectation is for decaying convective activity and clearing skies after daytime heating is lost. Probability for pockets of fog, favoring river valley locations, will increase toward daybreak with hi res ensemble favoring south and east of Pittsburgh.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry weather expected to close out the week. - Temperatures remain below average. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The upper trough will finally begin to make its exit on Thursday. High pressure will build as one final shortwave traverses the area in northerly flow aloft, but associated subsidence and increasing mid-level dry air will keep the area rain-free and mixing will erode residual cloud cover below a sinking inversion save for the ridges where low level moisture may be a bit slower to clear. Cool air will overspread the area with ensemble mean 850 mb temperature ranging from 3-6C supporting highs in the mid 60s, about 10 degrees below average, and a northerly gradient breeze through the day as the high builds in. Lows will bring a bit of a chill to the air with 40s expected and even a 40% probability of less than 40 mainly for the higher elevations and north of I-80. There is slight timing difference with the departure of the trough lending the chance for slightly cooler highs than forecast on Friday, but overall dry weather continues to close out the week with high confidence. Temperature will begin to moderate some with rising heights and with a dry atmosphere and sunny skies, adjusted NBM dew points down a bit and highs up a touch to account for mixing bias. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Shower and thunderstorm chances increase late Saturday into early next week. - Temperatures rebound back toward normal by Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Upper level clouds increase on Saturday as ensembles eject an upper wave out of the Plains. Uncertainty comes into play with variations in strength and timing of the wave with some showing a flatter, more progressive solution and others a more amplified, slower solution. Temperatures will rebound Saturday as southerly flow on the backside of the departing high promotes warm, moist advection. Thereafter, the overall pattern trends toward weak westerlies aloft through early next week. Embedded shortwaves may offer periodic shower/thunderstorm chances but will be much more dependent on convective evolution to the west to determine timing/coverage/probability of occurrence for the forecast area. There is higher confidence that broad height rises should enable further warming areawide, making low to mid 80 values more likely by Tuesday. && .AVIATION /22Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... An upper low passing through the region is supporting scattered to numerous slow-moving showers and thunderstorms across the area this afternoon. These are bringing periods of heavy rain and lightning to area terminals as well as restrictions to cigs/vis. Expect the convection to continue throughout the remainder of the day, tapering off from west to east after 00Z. High pressure builds into the area in the wake of the low overnight into Thursday, bringing VFR conditions and light north to northwest flow thereafter through the remainder of the TAF period. .Outlook... High pressure remains in place through the end of the week, resulting in areawide VFR through that time. Some restriction potential returns Saturday night into Sunday as showers and thunderstorms return with the next disturbance. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MLB NEAR TERM...MLB SHORT TERM...MLB LONG TERM...Frazier/MLB AVIATION...Cermak/Shallenberger