Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Pittsburgh weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——87°51°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——88°60°+1°
- SaturdayJun 6Showers79%—84°68°-4°
- SundayJun 7Showers70%—80°64°-4°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——84°58°+4°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——79°61°-5°
- WednesdayJun 10Partly Cloudy24%—84°57°+5°
Ozone at AQI 117 now. AQI up 5 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). With UV 8.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 124 by mid-afternoon.
CAUTION Sensitive groups (children, elderly, respiratory conditions) should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 117 now. With UV 8.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 124 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 117
- UV peak
- 8.0 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 124
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 5.6 µg/m³ (AQI 31) with a 0.98 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.98
- Wind
- calm
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:49 AM
- Moonset
- 1:18 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Pittsburgh at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 9°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 19 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Pittsburgh
SPC has placed Pittsburgh in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3SLGTSlight Risk
Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Pittsburgh's warmest temperatures, averaging around 74°F, while January delivers the coldest at approximately 30°F. Precipitation follows its own pattern, with June recording the highest rainfall at 4.6 inches and February seeing the least at 2.6 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 3.1″ | 6 |
| February | 32° | 2.6″ | 6 |
| March | 40° | 3.2″ | 8 |
| April | 52° | 3.4″ | 9 |
| May | 62° | 4.1″ | 9 |
| June | 70° | 4.6″ | 8 |
| July | 74° | 3.9″ | 8 |
| August | 72° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| September | 65° | 3.5″ | 6 |
| October | 54° | 3.1″ | 8 |
| November | 43° | 3.0″ | 6 |
| December | 34° | 3.0″ | 7 |
Regional context
Pittsburgh belongs to the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with other cities in this classification.
Similar climates: Philadelphia, PA, Allentown, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Lancaster, PA, Scranton, PA.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds to Pittsburgh gardens, their metallic calls announcing the transition to summer feeding season.
By mid-June, common milkweed releases its fragrant pink flower clusters across local meadows and vacant lots.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Pittsburgh?
- Spring's final frost usually occurs around mid-April in Pittsburgh, while the season's first frost returns around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Pittsburgh?
- June typically brings the most rainfall, averaging about 4.6 inches, while the city's total annual precipitation reaches roughly 41 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Pittsburgh?
- July records the highest temperatures, with averages around 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Pittsburgh?
- January brings the coldest weather, averaging near 30°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Pittsburgh?
- Plant cool-season crops like peas and lettuce around the last spring frost in mid-April, but wait 1–2 weeks later for warm-season varieties such as tomatoes and peppers.
- How many rainy days does Pittsburgh get?
- Pittsburgh experiences approximately 89 rainy days each year.
- What hardiness zone is Pittsburgh?
- Consult the USDA's online hardiness zone lookup using Pittsburgh's ZIP code to find the current zone designation, which reflects the area's lowest average winter temperatures.
Climate
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate. Winter temperatures in January typically hover near 30°F, while July brings averages around 74°F — creating a 44°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 41 inches, distributed across roughly 89 rainy days throughout the year.
Several factors determine the city's weather patterns: its latitude at 40.4°N, proximity to large water bodies, and local elevation. These elements influence plant growth cycles, frost timing, and daily weather conditions.