Pittsburgh: Bitter cold, biting winds to usher in new week

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

January 16,2016; 8:59PM,EST

 

The weekend will end with dangerous snow squalls returning to the Pittsburgh area before a fresh shot of arctic air returns in full force for the start of the new week.
Snow showers will be on the increase on Sunday as an arctic front approaches.
The greatest hazards to motorists will unfold late in the day and the evening when the front will arrive with snow squalls. The quick bursts of snow will dramatically lower visibility and quickly cause roads to turn slick.

Cold blast to usher into the Northeast

The squalls are expected to reach places north and west of Pittsburgh late in the afternoon and the city and points to the south and east during the evening.
Drivers who must be on the roads when the squall is moving through are urged to use extreme caution and allow extra stopping distance between the preceding vehicle. Use AccuWeather.com MinuteCast® to monitor the approaching snow.
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The snow squalls can drop a quick coating to an inch in Pittsburgh. Snow amounts in the Laurels and places toward Lake Erie will be higher as additional snow showers persist into early in the new week.
In the wake of the arctic front, temperatures will be held 15-20 degrees below normal both Monday and Tuesday. Blustery winds will worsen the situation by causing AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures to stay below zero all day on Monday and only rise into the single digits on Tuesday.

Residents will want to bundle up and cover exposed skin before spending any significant time outdoors to prevent frostbite. Care should be taken to ensure animals have proper shelter.
The cold will not be as harsh starting at midweek, but another surge of milder does not look to follow. Temperatures will be closer to the normal high of the upper 30s later in the week.