


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
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829 FXUS61 KPBZ 300855 AFDPBZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 455 AM EDT Mon Jun 30 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and again on Tuesday. A few storms could produce damaging winds and localized flooding. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... KEY MESSAGES: - Patchy fog possible this morning. - Strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall possible this afternoon --------------------------------------------------------------- Radar shows a few isolated, light showers across the region, primarily over Ohio. These will continue to be possible through the early morning, but are relatively low probability. Otherwise, mostly dry weather continues into Monday morning. Low temperatures will drop into the upper 60s to lower 70s. Patchy fog will also be possible, but increasing cloud cover will preclude this from being widespread. Probability for this is highest south of Pittsburgh near the stationary boundary. After a single quiet day, the currently-stalled frontal boundary will lift northwards today as a warm front, forcing an increase in area showers and thunderstorms by this afternoon. The environment will to similar to what we saw Friday and Saturday -- namely high, tall/thin CAPE and weak shear. The main notable difference is a general lack of dry air aloft. This could inhibit a more widespread downburst threat. Still, increasing mid-level shear during the afternoon should be enough to support stronger updrafts and a few isolated severe thunderstorms. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary hazard. SPC has maintained a marginal risk for damaging wind across the area. After what seems like a month of rain, isolated flash flooding will again be on the table, particularly over urban areas. Isolated storms will be capable of producing rainfall rates that exceed 1 in/hr, and and backbuilding storms may quickly exceed flash flood guidance. WPC has maintained a marginal risk for excessive rainfall. Temperatures remain several degrees above seasonal average. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Strong to severe storms and heavy rainfall chances Tuesday - Temperatures remain above-average, but below Heat Advisory criteria. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Convective activity is likely to wane through the evening with loss of daytime heating. Humid conditions will keep overnight lows warm once again. A cold front and accompanying trough will cross the region on Tuesday. Though fropa timing remains a bit uncertain, CAMS agree on more organized convection along and ahead of the front Tuesday morning/afternoon. With deep tropical moisture in place, heavy downpours are again expected, but more progressive storm motion should help reduce the flooding risk. SPC has maintained a marginal risk for the southeastern half of the area. This will of course depend on the exact timing of the front. Slower frontal passage will likely lead to expansion farther northwest. Clearing will quickly commence behind the cold front, with dry and mostly sunny weather as we head into Wednesday. Dry advection behind the front will help lower our dew points and allow overnight temperatures to drop more squarely into the mid-60s, but afternoon highs will remain several degrees above average. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Cold front Thursday returns shower and storm chances. - Dry for Independence Day. - Rain chances return late next weekend. ------------------------------------------------------------------- A shortwave will churn through the ECONUS longwave trough on Thursday and kick another cold front through the area from the northwest. Timing remains a bit uncertain, but passage is likely some time on Thursday which will return the chance for showers and storms, especially during the afternoon. Dew points ahead of it look to sit in the low 60s with not much return flow on Wednesday, but the NBM prob for >1000 J/kg SBCAPE is around 40-50% in the afternoon hours. Deep layer shear may be the lacking component with the best forcing and flow displaced to the north with the shortwave. Still, machine learning does peg at least a low-end chance of severe weather with the passage, contingent on it being at a favorable diurnal time. Ensembles remain confident in a dry Fourth of July as mid-level ridging returns behind the departing longwave. 5 or so degree spread in high temperatures remain (between low 80s and upper 80s), due to subtle timing differences in how quickly the ridge builds. The ridge flattens out into the weekend with mid-level zonal flow taking over. Ensembles do agree on low pressure development across the Northern Plains sometime Friday into Saturday and quickly sliding east, but disagreement on timing lends low confidence precipitation chances locally as the attendant surface cold front follows along with it. Most of Saturday looks dry at this time with even the faster solutions holding precip chances off until early Sunday, so most likely will see a more unsettled pattern return for the latter half of the weekend and into next week. Temperatures linger around average through the second half of the week, but may warm to slightly above average for the weekend. && .AVIATION /09Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR is expected early this morning as mid and high level clouds cigs continue ahead of an approaching shortwave trough. The exception will be ZZV, where some early morning fog is possible. CU rule and model soundings indicate a diurnal cumulus layer will develop by mid to late morning as convective temperatures are reached. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop by early to mid afternoon as a shortwave trough crosses the Upper Ohio Valley region, and as a surface boundary lifts north. CAPE is expected to range from 1000-2000 j/kg as the wave crosses, with 0-6km shear near 40kt. Included TEMPO for thunderstorms at all airports for the most likely time of occurrence, with PIT generally 19Z-23Z. Included MVFR restrictions for now, though IFR will be possible in locally heavy rainfall. Convection should gradually wane this evening with the loss of diurnal instability, and as the shortwave exits. Outlook... Fog and stratus restrictions are possible tonight with low level moisture in place. A crossing cold front will result in numerous showers and thunderstorms again on Tuesday afternoon and evening. VFR returns Wednesday under high pressure, before restriction and thunderstorm potential returns with a Thursday cold front. VFR is expected again by Friday under high pressure. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Rackley NEAR TERM...Rackley SHORT TERM...Rackley LONG TERM...Rackley/MLB AVIATION...WM