Hot weather continuing through this week
While the National Weather Service of Pittsburgh’s heat advisory ended Wednesday, the service’s forecast shows continued high temperatures for Thursday along with multiple chances of thunderstorms.
“It would be best if you can avoid being outside during the heat of the day,” said Lee Hendricks, meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Pittsburgh.
Hendricks said rain Wednesday night should offer some relief from humidity, but the forecast still shows temperatures as high as 90 degrees with the heat index in the mid-90s.
On Wednesday, the county saw greater levels of humidity, making temperatures in the low 90s feel like they were in the triple digits.
Cecile Dallas, of Edinboro, brought her grandchildren who live in Clay Township to the Alameda Waterpark on Wednesday afternoon. Like many people at the pool that day, Dallas bought tickets for the day to keep herself and her grandchildren cool.
“It’s a good day when it’s 90 degrees out,” Dallas said. “We’re waiting for some friends of theirs to come too.”
The service’s advisory warns that hot temperatures and high humidity may elevate concerns of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke. Hendricks said it could also present problems for people with existing respiratory conditions.
“Try to limit strenuous activities,” Hendricks said.
According to the forecast, storms are likely late Thursday afternoon with chances of precipitation around 80%.
“The showers and thunderstorms will be just ahead of the cold front,” Hendricks said. “Once the cold front goes through, that humidity will disappear and head off to the east.”
The forecast shows steep declines in temperature starting Friday with a high of 80 degrees. The forecast shows Saturday’s high at 70.
Hendricks said the high heat conditions came from a strong flow of warm air coming from the Gulf of Mexico into the region. He said the warm front did linger longer than usual which combined with cloudless sunny skies to create the hot, humid weather.
“This system hasn’t been moving fast,“ Hendricks said.
After Friday, the service’s broader forecast expects temperatures to remain in the 70s until next Tuesday when a high of 88 F.
