Weather Outlook For April 5, 2017

 

A brief reprieve from the wet weather will lead into the next period of unsettled weather on Thursday and Friday followed by a roller-coaster ride in temperatures through next week.

 

The remainder of Wednesday will be mostly sunny and mild with afternoon highs primarily in the 60’s across the state. Clouds will increase by evening with rain arriving after sunset. Periods of rain, with some embedded thunderstorms, will persist through Thursday and into the early half of Friday as a large disturbance traverses the region. By Friday morning, some places may measure several inches of rain in heavier downpours that occur for an extended period of time. Nearly all of the state will see soaking rains during this time. Winds will shift to the northwest bringing in much colder air by Friday. Afternoon high temperatures will struggle to reach 40 degrees over parts of western Pennsylvania. Some rain may transition to snow showers on Friday over the mountainous terrain of the north/west as the colder air arrives. Any lingering rain/snow showers will end overnight into Saturday morning as nighttime lows dip down below freezing across much of northern and western PA. A ridge of high pressure will provide dry conditions through the weekend with temperatures moderating to more seasonal levels by Sunday. Much milder air will arrive as the high drifts off the East Coast and winds shift to the southwest. Afternoon high temperatures will reach well into the 70's across at least parts of southeastern PA on Monday and Tuesday of next week. A front will approach the region from the west that will bring the next chances of rain to the state as early as next Tuesday.