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000
FXUS61 KPBZ 150922
AFDPBZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
522 AM EDT Mon Apr 15 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A brief bout of dry weather is expected today before rain
chances return on Tuesday with moderating temperatures into next
week.

&&

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

- The last of the showers/storms exit by dawn.
- Dry weather returns Monday with moderating temperatures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

A few showers and a thunderstorm or two are tracking across SW
PA this morning. These will continue to pop up and move
southeast. Even at this hour, there are still some weak
developing upstream into OH. These remain light but will need
monitored through dawn.

With the progression of the upper trough into today, confidence
is high that the cold front will clear the area by mid-morning.
Aside from some low probability shower chances south of I-70,
the day should otherwise be dry. Ensembles aren`t very bullish
on a notable push of colder air in the wake of the front as an
850 mb ridge quickly builds counteracting weak cold advection in
residual northwest flow; most of the day should feature a
rather sunny sky with increasing subsidence drying out the
boundary layer and temperatures are expected to remain above
normal.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Rain chances return for the latter half of Tuesday and
  continue through Thursday.
- Temperatures remain above average.
- Rain chances continue into mid-week.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Brief upper ridging slides overhead on Tuesday reinforcing the
dry weather for the first half of the day, but clouds increase
from the southwest with increasing moisture aloft ahead of an
approaching shortwave traversing and flattening the ridge and
reintroducing showers for the second half of the day. We should
see a brief break overnight Tuesday night before trailing low
pressure arrives. Amounts with this batch look light with even
NBM 90th percentile values only near 0.1-0.2" through Wednesday
morning.

Above normal temperatures and rain chances continue to be the theme
into mid-week as southerly return flow promotes warm advection
kicking highs above average with ensemble probability for >70F in
excess of 70% through Thursday.

What`s left of the ridging breaks down into Wednesday as an upper
trough and surface low pressure dig across the Midwest with
diffluent flow aloft - Temperatures remain above average.
- Rain chances continue into mid-week.promoting broad ascent. Primary ensemble
uncertainty stems from the progression of the trough and surface
low, but consensus tracks it through the Great Lakes to our north as
it occludes and returns rain to our region by Tuesday with a leading
shortwave passing through. Rain chances continue into Thursday as
the warm front approaches with the cold front following behind as
early as Wednesday night or more likely more toward early Thursday
morning.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Temperatures return closer to normal by the end of the week.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

We`ll dry out briefly behind the front, but ensembles push a
secondary reinforcing trough through by late week which then
favors temperatures dipping back down towards normal to close
out the week and low confidence rain chances as early as Friday
morning, but more likely into Friday afternoon and evening.
Still early to talk rainfall totals, but ensemble spread sits
from 0.2" on the reasonable low end to near 1" on the high end
through Friday.

The Saturday and Sunday timeframe will still feature a lagging
boundary over the Appalachian Range. Along this, expect a
surface low to develop with precipitation possible once again
along it and through the Upper OH Valley on Saturday. Confidence
decreases for the potential into Sunday so just left the slight
chance pops suggested by the NBM.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Isolated showers and thunderstorms will remain possible ahead of
a slow-moving cold front through this afternoon. Probability of
terminal impact remains small during the early morning hours and
elevated instability wanes, but bears monitoring for quick
amendment (HLG/LBE/ZZV). Timing of the front with diurnal
heating offers slightly increased chances at MGW, but model
variation in initiation creates low confidence.

Otherwise, the TAF period will feature VFR conditions (save for
morning MVFR with mixing at MGW) and generally light NW wind.
Localized patchy fog can`t be ruled out in rain-soaked locales
experiencing brief clearing overnight, but dry advection should
temper prolonged issues.

.Outlook...
VFR will persist until restriction potential returns late
Tuesday and Wednesday with approaching low pressure.
Restrictions are possible into Thursday under a subsequent upper
trough.

&&

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

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...Shallenberger
NEAR TERM...Shallenberger
SHORT TERM...Shallenberger
LONG TERM...MLB/Shallenberger
AVIATION...Frazier