Get cozy, because frigid temperatures are here to stay in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Service expects the cold weather that rolled into the region Wednesday to bring weeks of highs mostly hovering in the 30s.
Friday’s forecasted high is 35 degrees.
Sunday could offer a short respite, with temperatures projected to climb to 43 degrees — still colder than normal for Southwestern Pennsylvania this time of year.
The area’s average temperature in the waning days of November is in the mid- to high-40s.
There is some hope of relatively warm weather on the horizon, though.
“Maybe by the middle of December and into the end of December we may see a brief warm up,” said David Shallenberger, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s office in Moon, which forecasts for the entire Pittsburgh area.
The unusually wintry weather gripping the region isn’t just confined to low temperatures. The National Weather Service’s two week outlook shows higher than average precipitation, with several days offering a combination of rain and snow.
There’s a possibility of light snow until 1 p.m. Friday. The agency gives high chances of mixed precipitation Saturday and Sunday, and lower chances of snow Monday and Tuesday.
While significant snowfall isn’t yet projected, Shallenberger noted there are early indications that could change.
“Definitely something to stay alert for — any changes or forecasts being issued that have some significant snowfall accumulations,” he said.
