Pittsburgh Excessive Heat Warning Extended; Air Quality Alert Issued

PITTSBURGH, PA — As Southwestern Pennsylvania deals with another day of near-record-setting high temperatures, the region's air quality is deteriorating.

The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning that was issued Tuesday from Friday at 8 p.m. until Saturday at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, an Air Quality Alert is in effect for Thursday.

First, the heat wave: Expect more of the same. The high today and Friday will be 94 and is expected to jump to 96 on Saturday.

If you're tired of this trend, the weather service says there is light at the end of the tunnel. Rain and a cold front on Sunday will cool things back to just above normal for Monday.

Unfortunately, the weather service is warning of another "tunnel" next week, with temperatures again climbing back into the 90s.

Now the Air Quality Alert.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Thursday, including the greater Pittsburgh region and Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties.

A Code Orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those suffering from asthma, heart disease, or other lung diseases.

There also is a slight chance of severe thunderstorms developing today, although the weather service says the primary risk will be north of Pittsburgh.