:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-skyline-from-mt-washington-of-downtown-city-and-rivers-at-golden-triangle-at-night-exposure-of-three-rivers-and-fountain-at-point-547077117-58eb946f5f9b58ef7e1d2320.jpg)
Honestly, if you ask anyone from out of town about the temperature in Pittsburgh PA, they’ll probably describe some sort of frozen wasteland where the sun hasn't been seen since the late nineties. People think it’s just endlessly grey and bone-chillingly cold. And look, they aren't exactly wrong today. Right now, it’s 35°F outside. That’s basically the definition of "raw" weather.
It’s nighttime on this Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the air has that damp, heavy feel that only the Ohio Valley can produce. If you’re stepping out of a bar in the South Side or walking the dog in Squirrel Hill, it actually feels like 28°F because of a 8 mph breeze coming off the southwest.
Pittsburgh weather is a total yo-yo. You’ve got three rivers meeting in the middle of a hilly basin, and that topography does weird things to the thermometer. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re shivering because the humidity makes the cold "stick" to your skin.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Siege of Vienna 1683 Still Echoes in European History Today
The Reality of the Temperature in Pittsburgh PA Right Now
Most people checking the forecast today saw a high of 36°F and a low of 21°F. That’s pretty much textbook January for us. We had some snow earlier—mostly cloudy now—but the real story is what’s happening overnight.
The clouds are hanging tough, which actually keeps us from bottoming out too fast, but we’re still looking at a chance of snow flurries later tonight. The humidity is sitting at 62%, which is high enough to make that 35-degree mark feel significantly more biting than a dry 35 in Denver.
🔗 Read more: Why the Blue Jordan 13 Retro Still Dominates the Streets
Why It Feels Colder Than the Phone Says
Ever notice how 35 degrees in Pittsburgh feels like 20? It’s the "wet cold."
- The River Effect: The Monongahela and Allegheny rivers act like giant ice packs in the winter.
- Cloud Cover: We are the third cloudiest city in the U.S. No joke. Without the sun to warm the pavement, the cold just lingers.
- Wind Tunnels: The way the skyscrapers are packed in Downtown creates these localized wind gusts that can knock the breath out of you.
Survival Tips for the 2026 Winter Season
If you’re living here, you basically need a PhD in layering. Honestly, a single heavy coat is a rookie mistake because you’ll roast the second you step into a coffee shop. You need a base layer, a hoodie, and then the windbreaker or parka.
💡 You might also like: Sleeping With Your Neighbor: Why It Is More Complicated Than You Think
Check your tire pressure. When the temperature in Pittsburgh PA swings from 36 down to 21 in a single evening, your "low pressure" light is going to scream at you. It’s just physics. Also, the salt trucks are out. If you care about your car’s undercarriage, hit the touchless wash the second we get a break in the weather.
Don't let the grey skies get to you. It’s easy to catch the "winter blues" when the UV index is a literal 0, like it is right now. Get a sun lamp or at least some Vitamin D. Even though it's "mostly cloudy," there's a certain beauty to the city lights reflecting off the river when it's this crisp.
Actionable Next Steps
- Layer up tonight: If you're heading out, wear wool socks; the dampness at 35°F will soak through cheap cotton in minutes.
- Check the ice: With a low of 21°F coming, any slush from the 35% chance of daytime snow will turn into "black ice" by tomorrow morning.
- Pet Safety: If it's too cold for you to stand outside in a light jacket, it’s too cold for the dog. Keep the walks short tonight.
Basically, Pittsburgh in January is an endurance sport. We aren't the North Pole, but we aren't Florida either. Grab a Primanti’s sandwich, keep the heater on, and wait for the inevitable day in February when it randomly hits 60 degrees for no reason at all. That’s just how we live here.