Pittsburgh will see rain by midday and snow by Wednesday evening, with arctic cold setting in by Wednesday evening

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Widespread showers will move through the Laurel Highlands and Ridges early Wednesday morning. Most of this activity is moving southwest to northeast, so areas of Pittsburgh and points north and west will remain dry over the next few hours.

Temperatures are also very mild, in the low to mid 40s in most locations.

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We expect precipitation to gradually increase by late morning as a strong wave of low pressure in the atmosphere moves our way. The surface cold front has already moved eastward, so temperatures will fall steadily throughout the day from the low 40s this morning to the low 30s late afternoon and early evening.

Temperatures above the ground will become cold enough that rain will turn into and mix with snow between about 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

While we expect snowfall, surface temperatures are expected to remain above freezing, so accumulation on grassy and elevated areas is likely to persist. Most locations west of the Ridges and Laurel Highlands will receive 1 inch or less, with 2-4 inches possible on the highest peaks of the Laurel Highlands and Ridges.

As temperatures fall below freezing tonight, most of the widespread precipitation will have left our area. Scattered snow showers are expected to begin after midnight until around 5-6 a.m. Thursday, but accumulations will be light and localized.

Winds will be gusty and with air temperatures dropping into the upper teens, wind chills will be in the low single digits, which certainly won’t be pleasant, but above the level where frostbite would be a problem.

Thursday looks to remain cold with highs in the upper 20s and decreasing cloudiness. The cold air will continue into Friday before temperatures slowly rise again this weekend. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy on Saturday before our next disturbance, which will bring a few showers on Sunday.

Some snow is possible in the Laurel Highlands and Ridges. The milder air will continue to move in behind the system on Sunday, with highs in the low 50s early next week.

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