Pittsburgh Weather: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued For Several Counties

By: Ron Smiley/Kristin Emery/KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Rain returned to the area early this morning, with a chance of storms this afternoon and then a drastic drop in temperatures that could result in a snow shower.

KDKA Meteorologist Ron Smiley says the rain will be fairly continuously through around 6 p.m.

Right Now: Storms possible from noon to around 4 p.m. as cold front sweeps through.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for parts of Washington, Indiana, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Greene, Armstrong and Fayette counties through 5:15 p.m. There could be damaging winds up to 60 mph.

Alert: Today is a First Alert Weather Day with rain/showers and a chance for a few thunderstorms that could possibly contain damaging winds.

Aware: Rain through the afternoon with gusty winds, then temps falling tonight with a few snow showers through early Tuesday morning.

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Monday is a First Alert Weather Day.

Spring is still two weeks away, but our first real storm chance of the year is possible today. However, the Storm Prediction Center has now downgraded our risk level to marginal. Still, a few storms could pop up this afternoon with the main threat being gusty, potentially damaging winds. The threat will continue to diminish as we go through the evening.

Before the storms, we had light rain showers through the morning hours. Don't expect many gaps or breaks in the rain through around 5 or 6 p.m. Rain totals should be on average less than an inch, but there will be some places that will likely hit the one inch range.

The day will end with rain showers turning into some spot lake effect snow showers that will continue into early Tuesday morning. Some places in the Laurels and Ridges could see some minor accumulations.

Looking ahead, once the snow ends before sunrise on Tuesday, the next couple of days are looking pretty dry. There's a small 20% rain chance for Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday should be dry.

The weather during the middle of the week is looking above average. Temperatures will plunge though this weekend as a powerful winter storm moves through. Several inches of snow are going to be possible on Saturday and Sunday. Right now, it is still too early to go into much detail, but it is something we are keeping an eye on.

Looking back at the weekend, Saturday's high hit 72 degrees. It was the first 70 degree day of the year.

Out of the last five years, it was the third earliest date to hit the mark, so it is pretty much in line with what we would expect to see. The last 70 degree day was Nov. 11 of last year.

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