Pittsburgh Weather Alert: Incoming Severe Storms, Flash Flood Risk & Wild Temperature Swings — What to Expect and When

A steamy surge of Gulf moisture is turning Pittsburgh’s sky into a pressure cooker just in time for the Friday commute. Morning sunshine will push temperatures to a sticky 85 °F, but the humidity will make it feel closer to 90 °F. By mid-afternoon, that heat energy will fire up scattered thunderstorms capable of tropical-style downpours, brief gusty winds and dangerous lightning. According to independent forecaster WeatherShogun, isolated storm cells could drop an inch of rain in under an hour, creating ponding on parkways and flash-flood trouble spots from the South Side to the North Hills. Why Friday storms matter • Timing: Storm chances peak between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., the same window many fans will be heading to PNC Park and commuters will be squeezing onto the Parkway East. • Heat index: Before storms erupt, the “feels-like” temperature may flirt with 94 °F. • Severe risk: While widespread severe weather is unlikely, a quick 50 mph wind burst or dime-size hail can’t be ruled out in the strongest cells. Keep weather alerts enabled. Weekend breakdown Saturday: A leftover morning shower gives way to patchy afternoon sun. High near 83 °F with muggy lows in the upper 60s. Great news for farmer’s markets; moderate UV means sunscreen is still a must. Sunday: Sunshine returns early, but warm southwest flow bumps the mercury to 86 °F. Clouds thicken late as another disturbance approaches, so barbecues are safest at lunchtime. Early-week cooldown A weak cold front slips through Monday night, shaving highs to the upper 70s by Tuesday and Wednesday. Nights dip into the mid-60s—a small but welcome break from the current steam bath. Another round of pop-up showers is possible Thursday afternoon as humidity rebounds ahead of the July 4 holiday push. Climate context Pittsburgh’s normal late-June high is 82 °F, so today’s forecast runs 3–4 degrees warmer than average. The city has already logged five 85 °F-plus days this month; the 30-year June average is eight. While far from record-setting, recent NOAA outlooks still place western Pennsylvania in the “above-normal temperature” category through mid-July, keeping air-conditioner demand high. How to stay weather-wise • Plan errands before 2 p.m. or after 8 p.m. to dodge storm clusters. • Download a live-radar app and set lightning alerts for outdoor practice fields, construction sites and festival grounds. • Hydrate: with dew points hovering near 70 °F, you can lose a quart of fluid per hour while mowing or jogging. • Drive slow on glossy pavement; hydroplaning risk spikes during the season’s first heavy rain after a dry spell. Bottom line Pittsburgh weather is entering classic summertime mode: steamy mornings, pop-up afternoon storms and roller-coaster humidity. Keep an eye on the radar, respect rapidly darkening skies, and you’ll still squeeze plenty of sunshine out of this late-June weekend.