Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA

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233 FXUS61 KPBZ 070512 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 112 AM EDT Fri Jun 7 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Probability of rain showers will be elevated on Friday north of Pittsburgh with passing shortwave. Below average temperatures are also expected into late Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Pockets of river valley fog will continue to develop early this morning east of Pittsburgh. - Probability of rain shower activity increases after day break north of Pittsburgh with a passing shortwave. - Areas north of I-80 may observe a few thunderstorms; small hail may develop. - Confidence is high that rainfall total amounts through Friday evening will be less than 0.25 inches. -------------------------------------------------------------- A passing surface trough is created enough lift early this morning to create a few stray showers across the region. Probability of precipitation decreases below 10 percent just before 3am. With noted remnant moisture, light winds, and some breaks in the clouds, river valley fog is noted northeast of Pittsburgh on Nighttime Microphysics GOES-16 satellite. However, confidence is high that fog will not be an issue during the early morning commute with passing clouds from the northeast with a new shortwave. Rain showers probabilities increase after 10am north of Pittsburgh with a passing shortwave and will likely continue into the late evening. Hi-Res model soundings suggest pockets of 50J/kg to 150J/kg low-level instability during peak heating. Therefore, a few updrafts may lead to thunderstorm activity. With a low freezing level (7kft to 8kft) and storm tops projected near 10kft to 11kft, a few cell may produce small hail. With rainfall activity being sporadic, low PWATs, and the loss of a well- defined warm cloud layer, rainfall totals will be range between a trace to 0.25 inches across the region; higher amounts mainly focused near I-80. High temperatures will range from mid-70s to mid-60s Friday afternoon. The probability of higher temperatures will likely be south of I-70, where clouds and precipitation will be heavily absent for a large portion of the day. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Persistent upper trough maintains an unsettled pattern - Cooler temperatures expected ------------------------------------------------------------------- An upper low will drift across southeastern Canada and the Great Lakes region Friday through Saturday night. Individual shortwaves rotating around the low will keep an unsettled pattern across the Upper Ohio Valley region through the remainder of the period. A diurnal trend to the cloud cover is expected, with low convective temperatures in place and cool air aloft. One of these shortwaves is expected to cross the Upper Ohio Valley region on Friday, with isolated to scattered showers. Another is expected for Saturday, though the best upper support for any showers is expected to be mainly north of PGH. A stronger shortwave rotating around the low is expected to cross the region Saturday night, with scattered showers across much of the area. Temperatures are generally expected to average around 5 degrees below seasonable levels through the period. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Unsettled pattern through mid week under a series of upper troughs - Cool temperatures to start should warm next week ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shortwave troughs rotating around the upper low, mentioned in the short term section of the discussion, will maintain scattered showers on Sunday and Monday, though much of the time in any one location will be dry. Mainly dry weather is expected on Tuesday as the upper low exits the New England coast, and ridging briefly builds in. A shortwave trough is expected to advance eastward from the Plains region Tuesday night, crossing the Upper Ohio Valley region on Wednesday. Scattered showers are expected with the approach and passage of the trough. Temperatures should start out a few degrees below average Sunday and Monday, before returning to near, or above average readings by mid week. && .AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period. Areas of mid level clouds will cross the region tonight, around an upper low centered across Ontario and the Great Lakes region. Model soundings and the CU rule indicate a broken diurnal cumulus layer will develop Friday morning as convective temperatures are reached, and continue through the day. Scattered showers are expected, mainly north of PIT, with that area in closer proximity to the low, and more favorable moisture. An isolated thunderstorm is also possible, though chances remain too low for inclusion in the TAF at this time. A sufficiently tight pressure gradient, and mixing, will result in west wind gusting to 25kt during the daylight hours on Friday. Clouds should gradually decrease Friday evening as temperatures fall below convective thresholds. Wind will also diminish with decreased mixing. .Outlook... Periodic restrictions and scattered showers are then expected through Monday as a slow moving upper low persists across the Great Lakes region. VFR should return Tuesday under high pressure.
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&& .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Hefferan NEAR TERM...Hefferan SHORT TERM...WM/88 LONG TERM...WM/88 AVIATION...WM