Warmer temperatures across Southwestern Pa. to remain throughout the week

Unseasonably warm temperatures are in store this week for Southwestern Pennsylvania, though clouds and rain fill much of the forecast following Tuesday’s sunshine.

It’s still a break from the normally blistering cold weather felt in December.

High temperatures will hover in the 50s for most of the week, peaking at 60 on Thursday, according to Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.

“Today’s going to be pretty nice, plenty of sun, light winds and getting up around 50 degrees,” Hendricks said. “That’s pretty darn … good.”

As the week goes on, however, Tuesday’s sunny skies will be replaced by clouds, which will begin moving in overnight. Clouds will remain throughout the day Wednesday, with highs returning to the 50s. Lows will be in the 40s, which is closer to what the high temperature is during this time of year.

Thursday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a 70% chance of rain going into the evening. Hendricks noted that it will be unseasonably warm, with temperatures around 60 degrees. A 40% chance of showers will remain Thursday night, with temperatures hovering in the upper-30s.

Temperature will gradually climb this week before a cold frontal passage on Thursday, which will also bring a widespread chance of rain. pic.twitter.com/FjgyFhUsTn

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) December 13, 2021

The showers will cause temperatures to return to the upper-40s by Friday, Hendricks said.

“It’s not looking great going into the weekend,” he said, noting a 90% chance of rain Friday night followed by an 80% chance Saturday.

Rain could turn into snow Saturday night, but no accumulation is expected. Precipitation will end going into Sunday, when temperatures will be in the upper-30s.

“We’re bouncing around a lot, but temperatures at this point are still averaging above normal for the month,” Hendricks said. “That’s pretty much what we’re going to expect for the remainder of December.”

NWS officials last week attributed the warm weather to a pattern that has kept cold air bottled up into Canada and the Arctic. When the cold air breaks off, it will move down the northwestern coast of the United States, including Oregon, Washington and northern California.