Cold front could bring severe weather — strong winds, hail

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Friday, October 15, 2021 5:54 a.m.

Associated Press

There’s a chance for severe weather in the Pittsburgh area Friday as temperatures fall to seasonal norms, according to the National Weather Service.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop throughout the day as a cold front approaches, and a few storms could become severe in the afternoon and evening, meteorologist Bill Modzelewski said.

Damaging winds will be the main threat, with large hail and isolated tornadoes possible in the strongest of the storms, he said.

How strong or severe the storms become will depend on how much sun gets through.

“If it stays cloudy that chance of severe weather will be a lot lower,” Modzelewski said. “If we get breaks in the clouds and get more heating from the sun, it increases the amount of instability and the chance for severe weather.”

Scattered showers/tstms expected today as a cold front approaches. Few storms could be severe this aftn/eve. Most of the rain expected tonight/erly Sat as the front crosses. Please visit our website at https://t.co/nR4yhzmgUx to stay informed of the latest weather information. pic.twitter.com/7QfKwWB5my

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) October 15, 2021

It’s expected to be warm again today, with the high reaching 80, above the average high of 64. After a cold front comes through late Friday night, the temperature will fall through the day Saturday, from a high in the lower 60s in the morning to the mid-50s in the late afternoon and evening, Modzelewski said.

The low Saturday night in the Pittsburgh area will be in the mid-40s, which Modzelewski said is near the seasonal average.

Scattered rain showers are expected through Saturday afternoon and evening. Sunday and the first part of next week should be dry, with temperatures near seasonal averages.

“It will seem cold compared to what we’ve had,” Modzelewski said.

It’s expected to warm up around mid-week, with highs in the upper 60s to around 70, before another cold front comes through later next week again lowering temperatures back to seasonal averages, he said.