Winter warmup will finally thaw Pittsburgh (a bit)
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Rejoice! The temperature will rise above freezing for the first time in over two weeks.
Why it matters: A near-record-breaking snowstorm dumped about a foot of powder across Southwestern Pennsylvania, and the massive piles have not melted, making parking and walking a hassle.
Driving the news: The whole region will see high temperatures above 40 degrees on Tuesday, National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Cermak told Axios.
- Temperatures near Morgantown, West Virginia, could even reach above 50 degrees, he said.
Between the lines: A high-pressure system is moving into the area, bringing warm winds from the southwest, said Cermak.
- This system is finally dislodging the low-pressure system — and its frigid polar vortex — that sat over the Northeast for weeks.
Zoom in: Tuesday's warmup will melt some of the snow, but not drastic amounts, said Cermak.
- "We are not expecting a rapid melt-off. Right now, the concerns for flooding are not high."
- He said we would need several days of warmer weather to melt all the snow, and it's too early to forecast when that might be.
Pro tip: Watch out for black ice on Wednesday morning. Meltwater Tuesday could refreeze overnight as temperatures drop, and some of that ice won't melt again until midday, said Cermak.
What's next: The warmup is only supposed to stick around on Tuesday, and then a new low-pressure system will bring some colder air and winds from the northwest.
- That will keep the daily highs around 30 degrees for a few days, a relief compared to the last two weeks, but still a bit colder than normal for this time of year, according to Cermak.