Warming trend expected through coming week after snowy, blustery Sunday

Pittsburgh area residents looking forward to spring as they turned their clocks ahead for daylight savings time this weekend might feel like Mother Nature turned hers back to winter.

But the bursts of snow and cold winds across the region on Sunday won’t be around for long.

Snow squalls and snow bands came with a low pressure system pushing off from the Great Lakes into central Pennsylvania, National Weather Service meteorologist Shannon Hefferan said.

The weather service issued a winter weather advisory for areas north of Pittsburgh, including Armstrong, Butler, Indiana and Lawrence counties, where Hefferan said up to 3 inches of snow was possible.

A wind advisory was in place for the ridges, where gusts up to 45 mph are possible into Monday afternoon, she said.

A few warnings for squalls were issued for areas closer to Pittsburgh, including in Plum. Snow was intense enough in some areas to quickly drop visibility and coat roads, slickening bridges and overpasses, as road temperatures fell.

Snow will diminish throughout the evening, with the threat for snow in the Pittsburgh area decreasing after 8 p.m., Hefferan said.

The temperature on Sunday was highest shortly after midnight, then fell through the day. A low of 29 degrees is expected Sunday night.

A warming trend is expected through the week, with the high reaching 70 by Thursday, Hefferan said. Normal highs are around 46.

There is a chance for rain or thunderstorms Thursday into Friday.

Looking ahead to St. Patrick’s Day, while the high will be in the 50s, Hefferan said rain is expected.

Spring officially begins on March 19.