PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – An unusually strong ridge of high pressure over Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley will continue to bring unusually warm to record-breaking heat across our region.

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Record highs are possible today in several long-term climate locations in the Midwest and Ohio Valley. In Pittsburgh we're expecting a high of 80 degrees, which if reached would make today the warmest Halloween on record. Morgantown, Wheeling and Youngstown, OH are also expected to reach record highs today.

Later this evening into tonight, a strong upper-level storm system that produced severe storms in the Midwest and Mississippi Valley on Thursday will move toward the Great Lakes. A trailing cold front associated with this system will move into western Pennsylvania from Halloween evening to Halloween night.

Scattered showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two will move into our far northwest areas from Lawrence to Clarion County as early as 6-8 p.m., but as these move southwest to northeast, most of these are expected to miss Pittsburgh at least in the early evening hours.

After midnight, the cold front will move southeast, with more showers moving into the Pittsburgh metro and lasting into the late evening and overnight. About 0.10 inches of rain is expected across the area.

Friday's high in the mid to upper 60s will reach around midnight, with temperatures holding steady or falling throughout the day. A few showers are possible in the Laurel Highlands in the morning hours.

Some lake effect cloudiness is also possible in our northernmost counties, especially north of I-80. By Friday evening temperatures will drop below 40°C under clear skies.

More seasonal air will move in on Saturday as high pressure settles across the region. However, this will be short-lived as a warm front moves north again on Sunday. As the warm front moves in, expect more clouds and a few showers Sunday afternoon, overnight and Monday morning.

From next Monday, another longer phase of significantly above average temperatures is expected. Temperatures could be near record levels by next Tuesday afternoon. From Tuesday night to Wednesday, a cold front will move in from the northwest, bringing with it some showers and thunderstorms.

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