989
FXUS61 KPBZ 110653
AFDPBZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
253 AM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation discussion updated for 06z TAF issuance.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Potential for severe weather exists today and Friday, but
large uncertainty exists in timing/coverage/threats

2) Low probability flash flooding concerns exists through Friday
due to warm, moist environment

3) Above-average temperature with potential for record high
minimums possible through Friday, pending storm outcomes

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
The warm, humid environment will continue into Friday, keeping
chances for showers and thunderstorms in the forecast.
Additional thunderstorms are expected Friday in advance of a
cold front and crossing upper trough. A brief period of dry
weather and more seasonable temperature will follow.

CAMs continue to show some possibility for isolated/scattered
showers after sunrise this morning. Confidence in this remains
low. However, confidence is increasing for scattered
thunderstorm activity again this afternoon and early evening.
Coverage and exact timing of storms remains uncertain. However,
similar to today, high SBCAPE/DCAPE values and meager shear
should support storms capable of damaging wind gusts. Most of
the area remains in a Marginal (1/5) risk for severe weather.

Friday features a more well defined mid-level shortwave and
surface frontal boundary that offers a lifting mechanism, but
wide model guidance spread continues on timing. This could
result in more bullish precipitation/severe chances (afternoon
passage) or more bearish precipitation/severe chances (overnight
to mid morning Friday passage). Latest CAM trends now lean
towards early afternoon initiation farther west over the area.
This increases overall rain and associated severe risks.


KEY MESSAGE 2...
Despite fluctuations in mid-level moisture content, area PWAT
values will remain in the 90th and higher percentile ranges
through Friday while thermal profiles remain warm. These factors
alone create non-zero flash flood risks as they favor warm-rain
processes that result in higher and more efficient rainfall
rates. Add in generally weaker mid-level flow (though storm
motion quickens Friday), the risk for flash flooding exists each
day.

However, fairly dry surfaces plus low confidence in storm
coverage/occurrence dampens the likelihood of flash flooding
actually developing for any of these periods. The most likely
outcome is minimal flooding occurrences, with issues only
developing in poor-drainage locations that see prolonged 1-2"/hr
rates or areas that happen to see multiple rounds of these
efficient rains in a short amount of time.


KEY MESSAGE 3...
The combination of area dew points remaining in the upper 60s to
lower 70s while seeing enough periods of sunshine means
increased heat concerns today into Friday morning, with impacts
more acutely impacting heat-sensitive populations within urban
environments. Though a brief hour of heat indices near to
matching Heat Advisory criteria can`t be ruled out, this is
unlikely to be prolonged enough for headline issuance. Even
still the lack of significant overnight cooling can act to
exasperate any heat-related impacts until a cooler airmass
arrives Friday night into Saturday morning.

The biggest caveat to this heat potential is that convective
activity could act to limit diurnal heating (or further limit
overnight cooling) if it results in rain over a given location
and/or maintains thicker cloud cover than anticipated.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Tonight`s round of thunderstorms will exit the area early this
morning. Mainly VFR is expected through the remainder of the
overnight, save for brief fog potential at DUJ. Additional
showers and thunderstorms are possible after sunrise, but the
afternoon and early evening will hold better chances for
scattered thunderstorm development. Stronger thunderstorms will
be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, and possibly hail.
This threat will increase through the afternoon.

Confidence in rain/thunder impacts at individual terminals
remains low given timing and coverage uncertainty. Where
confidence has increased, switched PROB30 groups to TEMPO for
TSRA. Outside of thunderstorms, VFR will prevail through the
period. MVFR/IFR ceiling restrictions become more likely at DUJ
by 06z Friday.

Outlook...
Widespread restrictions in showers and thunderstorms are
expected Friday with a cold front passage. Saturday looks
relatively quiet with another possibility of thunderstorms on
Sunday.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
OH...None.
WV...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Rackley/Frazier
AVIATION...Rackley