After 2-year lows recorded Sunday, temperatures may climb to 50 Wednesday

Don’t break out those shorts just yet, but meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Moon said by midweek, Western Pennsylvanians might feel like pulling out their spring wardrobes.

“We’re finally going to thaw,” meteorologist Alicia Miller said.

And after experiencing the coldest temperature in two years about 7 a.m. Sunday, with temperatures dropping near zero or even below zero in many areas, residents might feel like summer has returned when thermometers are expected to climb to about 50 degrees about noon Wednesday, she said.

But first, back to Sunday morning’s deep chill.

“The temperature this morning at the airport that we registered was 3 degrees. The last time we recorded a temperature that low was Jan. 31, 2019, when the Pittsburgh area was minus-5 degrees,” Miller said.

Here's a look at the current temperatures around the region. We are currently 3 degrees at the airport. The last time we were at or below 3 degrees was Jan 31, 2019. Bundle up if you're going out this morning. pic.twitter.com/4dSwGLxbMv

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) February 21, 2021

Miller said the coldest recorded temperature in the region Sunday was in the Donegal area in Westmoreland County, which was minus-13 degrees. Waynesburg in Greene County and Moraine State Park in Butler County both recorded low temperatures of minus-4 about 7 a.m., and Cranberry in Butler County was minus-2, as was Kittanning in Armstrong County, according to the weather service.

But before the temperature climbs to near 50 Wednesday afternoon, Miller said temperatures will rise back into the 30s today and it will be “sunny until late afternoon when high clouds roll in.”

She noted the normal temperature this time of year is about 40 degrees.

But before the region’s mid-week warm up, another fast-moving cold front will pass through Monday morning about 6 a.m. with temperatures about 29 degrees.

“Unfortunately, the snow for the Pittsburgh area is expected to be about an inch before temperatures climb later in the morning, when we reach a high of about 38 degrees. We anticipate snow changing to light rain around noon,” she said.