Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
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687 FXUS61 KPBZ 140617 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 217 AM EDT Fri Aug 14 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Increased confidence for the next widespread severe/flood risk with a crossing disturbance on Sunday. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Scattered showers/storms across eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia pose a marginal flood risk south/west of Pittsburgh for Friday. 2) A break in activity expected until the next flood/severe chances return Saturday night into Sunday. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1... The upper level pattern still shows a ridge trough type pattern with the trough being over the east and continuing through the period. At the surface, a stationary boundary remains along southern Ohio and southeast into WV. This will keep the MCS track in a northwest to southeast track. The NBM gives a 40% chance of rainfall over 1 inch southwest of Pittsburgh through the area. The other concern is that the region in the corridor for continued rainfall is under a region of 1.8 to 2.0 PWAT values according to the HREF. Not to mention that this is the mean result. CAMS suggest that the timing of this rainfall is more in the 14Z to 20Z timeframe. The forecast area remains out of the marginal severe risk with the exception of south Tucker County being clipped for a wind threat. KEY MESSAGE 2... Guidance suggests a bit of a break in weather threats as a surface high pressure attempts to push south from Ontario, but this break will be brief before more severe/flood threats arrive Sunday as the high pushes east. Ensembles generally agree in an west-east sliding low. This area may see a slow moving warm front ahead of the system and a slow dragging cold front behind. The flatter the flow, the less of a chance for ascent and minimization of any threats. But should the upper shortwave trend more amplified, there may be more ascent near the surface low. This would increase excessive rainfall threats along the relatively slow passing fronts and raise convective threats in the warm sector. The conditional flood risk favors the whole area with a reasonable worst case scenario (10% chance) of a localized amount somewhere of 3 to 5 inches in a 48hr period. The conditional severe threat increases from north to south, as does the distance into the warm sector. The primary threat would appear to be damaging wind at this time. The only variable here is the timing of the arrival as there is increased support that the MCS will move through late Saturday night. && .AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Expect some minor instances of fog through dawn but overall, a VFR forecast is expected. The FKL and DUJ terminals will see some slightly more widespread fog. Heading into the day, the surface boundary is expected to remain positioned to to the southwest and this will keep terminals like ZZV, HLG, and MGW potentially seeing some restrictions due to showers and thunderstorms through the day. Locations north may see a few thunderstorms late and a PROB30 was used for this. Winds are expected to be light and variable through the day. Outlook... Drier weather is favored on Saturday followed by the next system crossing the region Sunday with more showers and thunderstorms. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Milcarek/Shallenberger AVIATION...Shallenberger