Pittsburgh, PA – Gusty winds are expected to impact western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia from Thursday afternoon through early Saturday as a cold front moves through the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, increasing wind speeds will develop Thursday afternoon alongside growing rain chances. For most locations, wind gusts between 25 and 35 mph are forecast, with occasional gusts up to 40 mph. The strongest winds are expected to peak around midday Friday.
Forecasters say eastern Tucker County, West Virginia, could experience even stronger conditions, with wind gusts around 55 mph, prompting the issuance of a Wind Advisory for that area.
Cities and communities potentially impacted include Pittsburgh, Butler, Washington, Wheeling, Morgantown, DuBois, Zanesville, and surrounding areas across the tri-state region. The strongest gusts are expected late Thursday night into Friday morning before gradually easing Friday evening.
The gusty winds may blow around unsecured outdoor objects, including trash bins, holiday decorations, and lightweight furniture. Drivers of high-profile vehicles, especially on bridges and open roadways, could experience difficult travel conditions.
While widespread power outages are not anticipated, isolated outages are possible if strong gusts bring down tree limbs or stress weakened power lines, particularly during periods of rain.
Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items, use caution while driving, and monitor local forecasts as conditions evolve. Wind speeds are expected to decrease heading into early Saturday morning as the system exits the region.
For the latest updates, residents can visit weather.gov/pittsburgh or monitor local alerts.
