Honestly, if you're asking about the weather for Pittsburgh right now, you’re probably staring at a sky that looks like the inside of a Tupperware container. It's gray. It’s always kinda gray. But today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the city is leaning into that classic winter vibe with a mix of "not quite freezing" and "just enough snow to be annoying."
Right now, it’s 32°F out there. It feels like 27°F though, thanks to a light 5 mph breeze coming up from the south. The humidity is sitting at a whopping 95%, so that light snow falling is basically sticking to everything like wet glitter.
The Saturday Breakdown: Slush and Clouds
Don't expect a tanning session. The UV index is a flat zero. We're looking at a high of 36°F today, which sounds decent until you realize the low is dropping down to 22°F tonight.
The day is mostly just cloudy, but the "fun" starts later. There’s a 20% chance of snow during the day, which jumps to 25% tonight. It’s not a blizzard. It’s more of a light dusting—the kind that makes the Parkway look pretty for five minutes before it turns into brown slush.
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The wind is going to pick up a bit too. We’re expecting southwest gusts around 13 mph. It’s the kind of weather where you wear the heavy coat but keep the umbrella in the car just in case the snow decides to turn into that weird, freezing drizzle Pittsburgh loves so much.
Why Pittsburgh Weather is Basically a Personality Trait
Living here means you’ve developed a sixth sense for "The Gray." January is statistically the cloudiest month of the year. We’re talking 68% to 69% overcast coverage most days. If you see the sun for more than three hours, people start acting like they've seen a UFO.
There’s a common misconception that Pittsburgh is as snowy as Buffalo or Erie. Not really. While we get our fair share—averaging about 44 inches a year—we’re often in this weird transition zone. One day it’s 50°F (like we saw earlier this week), and the next, the National Weather Service is putting out advisories for the Ridges of Fayette and Westmoreland.
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What’s Actually Coming Next Week
If you think today is cold, brace yourself. This weekend is just the appetizer.
An Arctic surge is scheduled to barrel through Monday night. We’re looking at highs in the teens and lows in the single digits for Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday might actually bottom out at 4°F. When it gets that cold, the wind doesn't even have to be strong to make frostbite a real concern for anyone waiting for a bus or walking the dog in Shadyside.
Living With It: Actionable Survival Tips
If you're out and about in the 412 today or prepping for the deep freeze:
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- Check the tire pressure. These 30-degree swings in 24 hours wreak havoc on your sensors. You don't want to be the person at the GetGo air pump when it's 4 degrees on Tuesday.
- Layer like a pro. Today is a "thermal plus hoodie plus shell" day. You’ll be sweating in the car but shivering at the Outlook in Mt. Washington.
- Watch the bridges. Pittsburgh has 446 of them. They freeze way faster than the actual road. Even if the pavement looks wet at 36°F today, those metal expansion joints on the Liberty Bridge can get slick fast as the sun goes down.
- Pet safety. If it’s too cold for you to stand outside in your pajamas, it’s too cold for the dog. Especially by Monday night.
Basically, Pittsburgh weather for the rest of January is going to be a test of patience. We're in that "Chill, Snow, Repeat" cycle the Farmers' Almanac warned us about. Keep the salt bucket by the door and maybe buy an extra bag of Sarris chocolates to get you through the gloom.
Check your local radar before heading out on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, especially if you're heading east into the higher elevations where that snow is actually going to pile up. For the city proper, just expect a lot of gray and a sharp drop in temperature by Sunday evening.