First day of winter brings chilly temps but it won't last
Winter arrived today and flurries are possible Wednesday morning.
The winter solstice is at 10:59 a.m. Tuesday, National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier said. While the day began feeling like winter, with frost and temperatures in the mid-20s, it’s expected to warm into the low 40s, a few degrees above normal, with a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day.
Wednesday will feel more like winter, with a lower forecast high of 35. A few light snow showers in the morning may bring a dusting to northwestern Pennsylvania, but Frazier said no accumulation is expected in Pittsburgh, which might only see some flurries in the air.
It’s expected to get warmer going into the weekend and for Christmas Eve and Christmas, with highs around 50 both days. Rain, not snow, is in the forecast for Friday night into Saturday morning.
No notable weather systems are on the horizon, Frazier said. Right now, any chances for precipitation are expected to be rain, not snow.
The passing of the winter solstice also means the days will start getting longer, with slowly increasing amounts of daylight, Frazier said. Daylight Saving Time, when clocks spring forward an hour, arrives at 2 a.m. March 13.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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