Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA

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671
FXUS61 KPBZ 151348
AFDPBZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
948 AM EDT Sun Jun 15 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Near-normal temperatures continue through early next week with
periodic shower and storm chances. Localized flooding will be
possible. Daytime highs return to above normal by the middle of
next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue, mainly PGH and
  to the south
- Locally heavy rain may result in flash flooding
---------------------------------------------------------------

There are minimal environmental changes today as a stationary
boundary remains over eastern OH through west central PA,
promoting heavy rain showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly
south of I-80. The factors supporting the Flood Watch for
southwest PA, eastern OH, and northern WV (and non- zero chances
outside):

- PWATs above the 90th percentile that approach daily maximum,
  indicating a moisture-rich environment
- Deep warm cloud depth sounding (12z sounding shows moisture
  through 13kft)
- Slow storm motion with Corfidi vectors around 3kts
- Lift sources from a stationary surface boundary plus an
  approaching weak PVA that could aid deformation zones
- Buoyancy near 1000J/kg

Showers will generally be light through the morning hours as
buoyancy remains limited, but become heavier between noon to 8pm
as the various factors above are maximized. HREF probabilities
for greater than 1" totals over 3 hours remains highest in the
watch area, but storm-scale processes (like outflow collisions)
are likely to play greatest role in the locations that may see
flooding and difficult to pinpoint ahead of time.

Loss of diurnal heating is likely to reduce storm coverage and
flooding risks at 8pm, but rain could persist based on residual
storm outflow collisions. Overnight patchy fog may again develop
in the region as the boundary layer remains moisture rich and
flow is light.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Similar flash flood chances Monday, mainly south of
  Pittsburgh.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Mostly-diurnal shower and storm chances in weak flow continue
Monday, keeping flood chances in play. PWAT values do drop
somewhat, but potential primed locations mainly south of PGH
could have relatively low FFG values where WPC has a Marginal
Risk of excessive rain currently. Timing, again, seems to
highlight the noon to 8pm timeframe when heating and forcing
combine.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- A mid-week warmup will be followed by increasing late-week
  severe potential.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

By Tuesday and Wednesday, there is some indication of a return
to quasi-zonal flow to even weak ridging, with nearly 100%
membership in clustering suggesting heights between 583dm and
586dm and NBM highs back into the mid to upper 80s, there is
increased confidence similar heat lingers into at least Thursday
at this point with most ensemble spread encompassed in the 80s.

Beyond that, into Friday and beyond, there is some indication
of troughing with both timing and intensity uncertainty. Though,
in the last 24 hours this has trended farther east and weaker,
keeping much of the late week temperature spread in the low to
mid 80s, providing some, but not dramatic relief. We will also
be keeping an eye on severe potential in the transition from
heat to weak troughing, with CIPS and CSU machine learning
showing increasing probabilities into Thursday and Friday. Into
days 7 and beyond, the strength and progressiveness of this
trough will determine just how long it takes to warm back up
into what could potentially be another ridging pattern with
heat returning.

&&

.AVIATION /14Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
A stationary boundary and approaching weak PVA will create
scattered to numerous showers with isolated thunderstorms south
of I-80 through 00z before diurnal heating loss reduces storm
coverage/intensity. Morning restrictions will lift as mixing
commences while the environment generally favors VFR by 18z but
MVFR to locally IFR within rain showers. Rainfall rates in the
stronger storms could exceed 2" but gusty wind potential remains
low.

The stagnant, moist environment is likely to remain fairly
unchanged overnight and allow for restriction deterioration
toward MVFR/IFR conditions and patchy fog.

Outlook...
Periodic restrictions are expected through Thursday as
disturbances track along the stalled frontal boundary across the
Upper Ohio Valley region. Late night/early morning stratus and
fog is likely, along with showers and thunderstorms peaking in
the afternoon and early evening. More organized showers/storms
are expected with a Thursday cold front.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ021-029-031-
     073>076.
OH...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ049-050-058-059-
     068-069.
WV...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for WVZ001>004-012-021-
     509>514.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...Milcarek
NEAR TERM...Frazier
SHORT TERM...Milcarek
LONG TERM...Milcarek
AVIATION...Frazier