Rain showers expected to bring cooler temperatures to Pittsburgh region

Rain moving into Southwestern Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon is expected to slide temperatures closer to seasonally-average norms throughout the weekend.

While the chance of isolated showers is possible throughout the day Thursday, temperatures will remain close to the upper 60s, said Jason Frazier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon. According to the NWS Twitter page, temperatures will hover around 67 degrees in Westmoreland County and 66 degrees in Allegheny.

A few sprinkles are possible this morning, but thanks to very dry air in the lower levels, most of this will not make it to the ground. Better rain chances move in from the west later this afternoon and overnight with a crossing cold front. pic.twitter.com/bhkYRfIAld

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) March 11, 2021

Thursday night, a 90% chance of showers could bring between half and three quarters of an inch of rain to the region. Showers are part of a cold front that will lower temperatures throughout the day Friday when temperatures will hover around the upper 50s. Rain is expected to end by Friday morning.

On Saturday and Sunday, temperatures will be in the upper 40s. This time of year temperatures are normally around 46 degrees for a high and 27 degrees for a low.

Rain is not expected throughout the weekend, Frazier said.

Temperatures will likely remain cool at the start of next week. Initial projections show a high near 40 degrees on Monday with a 30% chance of precipitation, including snow showers. According to the weather service, however, if there are no more traces of snow from now until the end of the month, it will be the least snowiest March since 1946.

If we don't receive more than a trace of snow from now until the end of the month, it will be the least snowiest March since 1946. pic.twitter.com/PnOJkue3Ek

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) March 10, 2021

Temperatures are expected to rise again to a high of 46 degrees Tuesday and 50 degrees Wednesday.

“We’re monitoring what will be a very large scale system and it’s moving from the central plains east but a lot of details of that are fuzzy,” Frazier said. “Most likely the trend is still a little bit on the cool side, but still probably about seasonally average on Monday and dry before we see rain chances return Tuesday into Wednesday.”