Pittsburgh Bracing For Coldest Temperatures In Years

PITTSBURGH, PA — The good news weather-wise for Pittsburgh is that there is little chance of accumulating snow this weekend. The bad news: The new week will usher in by far the coldest temperatures of the season.

A blast of frigid arctic air will plunge southward from Canada on Sunday, leading to temperatures dipping below zero and producing hazardous wind chills. The temperatures are expected to be the lowest the region has seen in three years.

"There is high confidence in much below normal temperatures next week, with the coldest period most likely between Monday and Wednesday," the National Weather Service stated in an alert Friday. "Extreme cold will stress local infrastructure and prolonged exposure to the cold could be dangerous."

The weather service predicts a low temperature of 4 degrees on Monday morning, with a high on Martin Luther King Day of 9. The low Tuesday morning is expected to be 5 below zero, with temperatures recovering only to 9 again. Temperatures likely will plunge to 10 below zero on Wednesday morning, with an expected high of 11.

State College-based AccuWeather is warning of "extreme cold (that) can be dangerous for outdoor activities."

AccuWeather is predicting a low of 2 degrees on Monday, with a high of 14. Temperatures are expected to fall to 8 below zero Tuesday morning and rise to 17. The forecast for Wednesday is a low of 8 and a high of 15.

"The cold outbreak will occur right smack in the middle of what is historically the coldest part of the winter," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Bob Larson said.

Temperatures are expected to begin to moderate by Thursday.