Synopsis…

Showers continue throughout the night tonight with a little break before another system of showers approaches from the west in the early morning hours.  The break could make temperatures drop considering clouds will be sparse.  The system of showers from the west is associated with a cold front that will cease by the afternoon hours on Friday giving us sunny conditions on Saturday with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s across the state.  However, a weak cold front moves in on Sunday that could cause some of the state to see some showers but otherwise Sunday will be a mostly cloudy day.  Monday is likely to see sunny conditions as a high pressure system moves in.

Short-term…

Not much has changed since the previous discussion.  Both the WRF and GFS models are in agreement with a weak cold front approaching western Pennsylvania by late tonight and into tomorrow morning.  With this front, heavy precipitation across the state cannot be ruled out, as PWATS associated with the front is predicting anywhere from 0.25" – 2.00" of rain.  Areas with convection occurring, especially over the western half of the state, should be receiving the most amounts of rainfall.  Some lingering showers should occur for most of the day Friday, followed by some partial clearing for the remainder of the evening and into Saturday morning.

Long term…

After the front moves out early Friday, high pressure will move in bringing in warmer temperatures and sunny conditions for Saturday.  However, Sunday could see a quick rain shower according to the GFS model in the southern parts of the state while WRF is showing the showers hitting the northern part of the state.  They will only be light showers with otherwise mostly cloudy conditions.  After the front moves through, high pressure will move in, giving us warmer temperatures for the beginning of the week.

Jackie Layer and Erin Rohland