A freeze warning for the Pittsburgh region expired around 9 a.m. Thursday — but not before temperatures tied an 88-year-old record low.
The temperature dipped to 29 degrees overnight, tying a record set in 1934, National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier said.
“It’s possible that locations around Pittsburgh dropped even lower,” Frazier said, but only data collected at Pittsburgh International Airport is used for official record-keeping.
Weather experts weren’t surprised by the record tie after a freeze warning was issued for 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania beginning at 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Temperatures will recover nicely Thursday, Frazier said, and are expected to climb into the mid-50s with sunny skies.
People can expect another night of colder-than-normal weather, Frazier said.
Expect another night of colder than average temperatures across the forecast area tonight. A hard freeze is possible again where the growing season has begun. This will be mainly north of Pittsburgh tonight. pic.twitter.com/vREVzppLNk
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) April 28, 2022
Temperatures could drop just below the freezing mark – meaning an outside chance that another record could be set Friday for all-time lows.
The record for April 29 is 28 degrees and was set in 1977, Frazier said.
A hard freeze is possible, mostly in areas north of Pittsburgh.
In areas where the growing season has started, a freeze warning has been issued from 1 to 9 a.m. Friday.
For locations where the growing season has started, a Freeze Warning has been issued and will be in effect from 1 AM to 9 AM Friday. Use this afternoon and evening to take preventative action to protect sensitive outdoor vegetation. pic.twitter.com/yVUCf1BWOl
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) April 28, 2022
Gardeners should bring in any outdoor plants, or cover those already in the ground, to protect them from the harsh cold weather.
Friday will rebound into a warmer day with temperatures reaching 61 degrees.
