No snow this year, but another chilly home opener predicted for Pirates

If you are planning to attend the Pirates’ home opener Monday against St. Louis you’ll want to bring a jacket. And maybe a sweater.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Moon calls for temperatures that are colder than the average for April 1, with a high of 47 degrees. But there won’t be anything like the precipitation fans experienced last year.

When the Pirates played the Twins in their 2018 home opener April 2, the Twins brought the Minnesota weather with them. A total of 2.8 inches of snow fell in Pittsburgh that day. The PNC Park grounds crew cleared the snow in time to get the game in, a 5-4 Pirates victory.

More often than not, Pirates home openers happen on cooler-than-normal days. In seven of the past 10, the temperature at first pitch was 54 degrees or lower, and in four of those, it was 41 degrees or colder.

Just two years ago, the Pirates played the Braves in 37 degree temperatures with 13 mph winds. The Pirates won, 5-4.

Since 2009, the home opener occasionally fell on a warm day. Twice in the past 10 years, the first-pitch temperature was 76 degrees — in 2010 when the Pirates beat the Dodgers, 11-5, and again in 2015 when they defeated the Tigers, 5-4.

If the weather forecast is correct, Pirates fans will not experience anything nearly as comfortable on Monday.

National Weather Service meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said there could be some snow showers Sunday, the day before the opener.

“It appears that weather system will clear out on Sunday night,” Fullerton said. “So, we won’t have to worry about getting another 2.8 inches of snow, thank God.”