Area forecast discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 326 PM EDT Friday may 24 2013 Synopsis... dry and cool weather can be expected for the weekend. && Near term /through Saturday/... the upper level trough will continue to pivot across the region through the afternoon and evening as high pressure tries to build overhead at the surface. Cold northwest flow continues to keep cloud cover over much of the forecast area through this afternoon...which is right in line with the latest RUC forecast. With cloud cover still in place...continued a downward trend in the high temperatures for the afternoon...with pit likely to be very close to breaking it's low high temperatures record from 1877. The most recent model runs continue to suggest that clouds will eventually diminish over the entire region...lasting longest in the ridges. How fast the clouds diminish will play a big role in how quickly temperatures drop overnight. However...since temperatures are already lower than originally forecast...clearing skies should allow lows in the low to middle 30's to be realized relatively quickly. For now...continued the frost/freeze as is...although some counties may need to be upgraded to a freeze if skies clear sooner and winds decouple. High pressure will build overhead Saturday bringing a clear day but northwest flow will keep temperatures 10 to 15 below seasonal averages. && Short term /Saturday night through Monday/... high pressure will continue to dominate through the short term period. Temperatures were kept 5 degrees below seasonal averages Sunday...but moderated closer to normal by Monday. An approaching warm front could bring the chance for a shower in the southern portions of the forecast area late Monday but for now...left low end probability of precipitation. && Long term /Monday night through Thursday/... a warm front moving north across the district Tuesday will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms through Wednesday. As the warm front moves north of the forecast area Thursday warm and more humid conditions will return with high temperatures into the 80s through Friday. There will be a slight chance of diurnal thunderstorms Thursday and Friday. && Aviation /19z Friday through Wednesday/... general MVFR to VFR stratocu remains in place this evening with kfkl still below 2000 feet at this hour. General broken VFR to MVFR ceilings can be expected this evening. Ceilings could slowly lower after sunset as gusty winds diminish. Northerly flow off the lakes will tend to keeps some cloudiness across the district into Saturday morning. Outlook.../Saturday through Tuesday/... high pressure will maintain general VFR through Monday. A warm front will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms for Tuesday. && Pbz watches/warnings/advisories... Maryland...freeze warning from 3 am to 8 am EDT Saturday for mdz001. Ohio...frost advisory from 3 am to 8 am EDT Saturday for ohz039>041- 048>050-057>059-068-069. PA...frost advisory from 3 am to 8 am EDT Saturday for paz020-021- 029-031-073-075. Freeze warning from 3 am to 8 am EDT Saturday for paz007>009- 013>016-022-023-074-076. WV...frost advisory from 3 am to 8 am EDT Saturday for wvz001>004- 012-021-022. Freeze warning from 3 am to 8 am EDT Saturday for wvz023-041. && $$