


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
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951 FXUS61 KPBZ 021629 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1229 PM EDT Sat Aug 2 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Relatively cooler and drier conditions can be expected over the weekend. Rain chances return by the middle of next week, but severe weather is not expected over the next seven days. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Cool and dry conditions today --------------------------------------------------------------- Building high pressure will maintain dry, benign weather conditions today. While upper- level winds are from the northwest, they will be weak, limiting the entry of Canadian wildfire smoke into eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Temperatures will top out several degrees below average. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry and seasonable weather expected through Monday - Low probability for surface impacts of wildfire smoke ---------------------------------------------------------------- Weak upper level flow and high pressure centered northeast of the region will continue to support dry weather across the Upper Ohio River Valley. Shift of the high slightly east combined with subtle height rises means temperature will see a gradual rise, remaining near normal Sunday and trending toward about 5 degrees above normal. The most noteworthy items will be tethered to the wildfire world. The first is the potential for efficient mixing of dry air to the surface Sun/Mon that creates low RH conditions for the region that may elevate the potential for fire weather concerns (though fairly muted given generally saturated ground and light wind). The second is an influx of elevated wildfire smoke from western CONUS and canadian wildfires; latest modeling suggests smoke concentrations should remain elevated and be denser to the north/south but this could change. You can visit airnow.gov for the latest air quality information and smoke forecasts. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry conditions through Tuesday. - Low probability afternoon storms may be possible late week ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ensemble models favor a weak, saggy trough inching eastward through the end of the week as strong ridging develops over the desert SW. This should favor slightly above normal temperature and a weak influx of moisture that may return low probability/isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms starting Wednesday. This pattern is not likely to be favorable for severe weather (weak shear with mean CAPE values less than 1000 J/kg) or flash flooding (mean PWAT values hovering between the mean and the 75th percentile). && .AVIATION /16Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... High pressure will maintain dry conditions today with relatively light winds due to a weak pressure gradient. VFR is expected through the TAF period although high level clouds will stream overhead through the daytime hours. Outlook... High confidence in a prolonged period of VFR (save for morning river valley steam fog) with dry weather through the weekend and into early portions of next week. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...88 NEAR TERM...88 SHORT TERM...Frazier LONG TERM...Frazier AVIATION...88