Temperatures in Pittsburgh region could drop this weekend, bringing chance of rain

Temperatures will hover close to 90 degrees over the next few days, but a front could bring some relief to the Pittsburgh region this weekend.

According to National Weather Service, highs will remain in the upper 80s Thursday and Friday with the potential for isolated showers.

“Today and tomorrow will be kind of like a broken record forecast,” meteorologist Mike Kennedy said. “We’ve been stuck in this pattern for a while.”

Good morning! It'll be another warm and humid day. Showers and thunderstorms may be a bit more widespread, but the best chances remain in the higher elevations. Slow-moving downpours are possible, as is isolated flooding. Always remember: TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN! pic.twitter.com/DyeeNsG8I9

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 13, 2020

There is about a 20% chance for showers in the Pittsburgh area, mainly in mid-afternoon, but most of the rainfall is expected to occur in areas surrounding the region, including Ohio and West Virginia.

The heat and little rain the region has experienced for most of the week has caused higher levels of ozone air pollution, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said earlier this week. That means the region’s Air Quality Index reached Code Orange several times this year, including Sunday and Monday.

A map from the weather service in Pittsburgh suggest highs could reach 88 degrees near the city Thursday and 86 degrees in Latrobe. According to The Weather Channel, the humidity will be at 72% Thursday morning, dropping to about 55% mid-day. The humidity will be slightly higher Friday, hovering around 80%.

Moving into the weekend, however, a front will bring highs in the upper 70s and a 50% chance of rain, Kennedy said. He noted the humidity will not change throughout the weekend.

Relief is on the way. A pattern change is expected as the polar jet stream finally makes an appearance in the Northeast. The re-appearance of the polar jet will also bring a more robust rain chance for all this weekend.

May your weekend be long, and your gardens be watered. pic.twitter.com/sQON5dBb7z

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 12, 2020

“Relief is on the way,” the weather service tweeted. “A pattern change is expected as the polar jet stream finally makes an appearance in the Northeast. The re-appearance of the polar jet will also bring a more robust rain chance for all this weekend.”

Scattered thunderstorms could appear Saturday, according to The Weather Channel, with showers moving through the region Sunday.

Next week, temperatures will be at or below the normal range for this of year in the lower 80s, Kennedy said.