


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
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215 FXUS61 KPBZ 261233 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 833 AM EDT Sat Jul 26 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Shower and thunderstorm chances continue today as a front lifts north across the region. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday as the front drifts back to the south. Locally heavy rain and strong wind gusts are possible in some of the storms. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... KEY MESSAGES: - Showers and thunderstorms increase again today - Locally heavy rainfall possible - Marginal Risk for severe storms --------------------------------------------------------------- A shortwave across northern OH will track east this morning, crossing the local area this morning. A cluster of showers and thunderstorms is expected with this wave, mainly north of Pittsburgh, though scattered convection is still expected from near Pittsburgh and points south. Somewhat of a lull in the convection is expected immediately following the passage of this initial shortwave. A surface boundary/warm front is expected to lift slowly north across the region today, and should be oriented from northern OH into NW PA late this morning, shifting further to the north this afternoon. Another shortwave/vort max is expected to track east across OH and southern Ontario this afternoon, with additional shower and thunderstorm development expected as it moves across eastern OH/Wrn PA. Convective temperatures should also be met by afternoon, with general scattered convection across the remainder of the area. At this time, it appears the most numerous coverage of storms will be north of PIT. The highest PWATS of 1.8 to 2.0 are progged to be from PIT northward today, with these areas the most favorable to see locally heavy rainfall. ML CAPE is expected to be similar to Friday, ranging from 1500-2000 j/kg. There is a potential for localized flash flooding, especially for areas that see more numerous thunderstorms north of PIT. The antecedent conditions are dryer for this area, so held off on a flood watch at this time. There is also a localized flash flood potential for the remainder of the area, though coverage of storms should be less organized and scattered. There is some potential for damaging wind gusts again today, with some mid level dry air in place. Ensemble based DCAPE is expected to range from 500-800 j/kg, with some limited dry air in the mid levels. Some increase in shear could also result in a wind potential for more organized storms. Hot and humid conditions will continue outside of any convection, with heat indices in the 90s for much of the area. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Shower and storm chances continue tonight - More numerous showers and thunderstorms Sunday - Locally heavy rainfall and gusty wind possible in Sunday storms - Hot with low chances for showers/storms Monday ---------------------------------------------------------------- Another in the series of shortwaves will cross the region overnight, maintaining areas of showers and a few thunderstorms. Storm intensity should wane in the evening with diminishing surface instability, though elevated instability should maintain a few storms overnight. The surface boundary will move SE across the region on Sunday as the flow aloft veers to the NW, after the passage of the morning shortwave. More numerous showers/storms are expected with the morning shortwave, and as the front crosses the area in the afternoon. 0-6km shear near 30kt, and W-NW flow aloft could result in a Marginal Risk for severe storms. The showers/storms should end by Sunday evening as the front shifts south and dissipates, and as shortwave ridging begins to build across the area. Most of Monday is expected to be dry, as an upper high builds across the Central CONUS. THe Upper Ohio Valley region is expected to be on the NE periphery of the high in NW flow. A weak shortwave in the flow is expected to approach and cross the Upper Ohio Valley region in the afternoon. This could spark a few showers/storms with its passage. Mainly dry weather should return Monday night after the passage of the wave. The heat will return Monday as well, with highs around 90 for most locations. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Hot weather continues through mid week. - Mainly dry Tuesday and Wednesday - Showers/storms return Wednesday night and Thursday - Cooler and less humid by late week into the weekend ------------------------------------------------------------------- Model ensembles indicate the Central CONUS upper high will persist through mid week. The Upper Ohio Valley region will remain on the NE periphery of the high, under NW flow aloft. At this time, ensembles indicate little shortwave support for precip Tuesday and Wednesday, though isolated storms are possible. The high is progged to weaken and retrograde SW late Wednesday and Thursday, with an increasingly amplified pattern across the northern CONUS, with troughing across the NE CONUS. A shortwave embedded in the main trough, along with a surface cold front, are expected to approach and cross the region Wednesday night into Thursday, with shower and thunderstorm chances. Dry, cooler, and less humid weather is expected by Friday as high pressure builds in. && .AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Showers and thunderstorms are accompanying a shortwave this morning, with most of the activity initially expected from PIT on north. Brief MVFR/IFR visibility in moderate to heavy rain may accompany this activity. This activity will exit the region by the midday hours, with a brief lull behind this shortwave. A stubborn boundary will lift slowly north as a warm front thereafter, with another shortwave/vort max tracking east across OH and southern Ontario this afternoon. Additional shower and thunderstorm development is expected this afternoon, with the best coverage north of PIT. Continued to use PROB30 at all sites for now as coverage/timing remains a bit in question. A stronger storm could bring heavy rain and gusty wind. Outside of precipitation, wind will be light out of the southwest with a broken mid-level cloud deck. Yet another shortwave will cross tonight, maintaining shower and thunderstorm chances, although intensity should drop off a bit as storms become elevated once again. Will try to assess chances/timing of precipitation with updated model runs. Outlook... Daily showers and thunderstorm chances, with restriction chances, will continue into early next week with a series of disturbances. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...WM NEAR TERM...WM SHORT TERM...WM LONG TERM...WM AVIATION...CL/88