The ongoing warmer temperatures of this week are predicted to decrease starting on Friday as precipitation rolls into southwestern PA over the weekend.

“What I can tell you is there is a cold front that is coming through Friday night into Saturday,” Myranda Fullerton, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Pittsburgh office, said. “Friday, our high temperature will be up in the upper 70's, around 80 degrees, and by Saturday, with the rain and the clouds, we are anticipating highs in the mid 60's, a break from the warmth.”

Rain is predicted for the weekend, she said, but the region should be dry by Monday. The National Weather Service forecast predicts that the low temperatures for the region will return to the 40s this weekend as well.

Fullerton said that the temperature fluctuations are more common than people think for autumn in the area.

“Fall is known as a secondary severe weather season,” she said. “You can get these warmer temperatures and these stronger cold fronts that come through. Everybody is usually caught off guard by the fact that we can see warm (temperatures) during fall, but it's common.”

The average high temperature for Western PA at this time of year is 64 degrees, Fullerton said, so the cold front will bring the region back towards the average value.

“It's not highly unusual, given that transition from summer to winter,” she said.

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. The full story will be available tomorrow for subscribers. Please consider supporting our local, independent newsroom by subscribing at butlereagle.com.