Severe Weather Potential - Tuesday, July 21, 2026
UPDATE: July 21, 2026 - 8:00 a.m.
The National Weather Service has provided an updated forecast for today, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The Western PA, Eastern OH, and Northern WV areas may experience the following weather conditions between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.: damaging wind, large hail, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
A flood watch is also in effect for portions of the region from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Continue to monitor the situation at weather.gov/pbz/ and take appropriate precautions, such as preparing to move to higher ground. We will provide updates on safety.pitt.edu/alerts, X, Instagram, and Facebook as they become available.
July 20, 2026 - 12:51 p.m.
The National Weather Service has provided an updated forecast for Tuesday, July 21. The Pittsburgh area could experience possible severe weather, including damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain. The highest risk for intense storms will be between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Continue to monitor the situation at weather.gov/pbz/ and take appropriate precautions. We will provide updates on safety.pitt.edu/alerts as they become available.
Construction Alert: Fifth and Ruskin Avenues
July 17, 2026 - 11:50 a.m.
Road and sidewalk closures along Fifth and Ruskin Avenues in support of the new first-year residence hall construction have begun. Throughout the project, Ruskin Avenue will be restricted to one lane of traffic between Fifth Avenue and the loading dock for Clapp and Langley Halls. Motorists will only be able to travel south from Bigelow Boulevard; the northbound lane from Fifth Avenue will be closed. Fencing has been placed around the site, with the sidewalks along Ruskin and Fifth Avenues being closed to pedestrian access.
Everyone traveling through the area should follow all posted detours and signage. Pedestrians should cross at the nearest crosswalk in advance of the closure; please do not walk in the road to avoid crossing. Do not enter or cross through the construction site. These closures are expected to change as the project progresses. Additional updates will be shared on Planning, Design and Construction's website.
Update: Air Quality Alert (Thursday, July 16, 2026) 11:28am
Air Quality Alert Update: 11:28am, Thursday, July 16, 2026
The University of Pittsburgh is urging all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to monitor local air quality conditions and follow health guidelines from state and federal agencies. Hazy skies and elevated fine particulate levels may create unhealthy outdoor air conditions, particularly for individuals who are sensitive to air pollution.
The University is actively monitoring conditions in coordination with the National Weather Service & Environmental Agencies and will provide updates as necessary.
What You Should Do
- Check the Allegheny County Air Quality Website Air Quality - Allegheny County, PA for current conditions or check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow Air Quality Index (AQI) for real-time conditions in your area.
- Limit outdoor activity when necessary, Individuals who are more sensitive to air pollution, should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities when air quality reaches unhealthy levels.
- If smoke is visible or air quality is poor, consider remaining indoors with windows and doors closed when possible.
- Continue to monitor University communications at safety.pitt.edu , including the Pitt ENS Alert system, for any campus-specific updates.
The University has established the following guidance for outdoor work based on EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) levels:
- AQI 101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups):
- Sensitive individuals should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.
- Voluntary use of an N95 respirator is encouraged for sensitive individuals performing outdoor work.
- AQI 151–250 (Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy):
- Consider modifying or rescheduling non-essential outdoor work where feasible.
- Voluntary use of an N95 respirator is encouraged for all individuals performing outdoor work.
- AQI 251–300 (Very Unhealthy):
- Consider suspending non-critical outdoor work activities when possible after ensuring work areas are left in a safe condition.
- Voluntary use of an N95 respirator is strongly encouraged.
- AQI 301–500 (Hazardous):
- All non-emergency and non-critical outdoor work should cease.
- Voluntary use of an N95 respirator is strongly encouraged for anyone who must be outdoors.
- AQI Greater Than 500 (Hazardous):
- All non-emergency and non-critical outdoor work should cease.
- Respiratory protection is required for employees who must perform outdoor work. Affected employees must be enrolled in the University's Respiratory Protection Program.
Health Resources
Anyone experiencing symptoms should reduce exposure to outdoor air and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
Faculty and Staff who believe they are experiencing health effects related to current air quality conditions are encouraged to visit MyHealth@Work Health and Wellness Center, located on the 5th Floor of 3708 Fifth Avenue, or contact their healthcare provider.
Students should visit Student Health Services located at Nordenberg Hall-Wellness Center, 119 University Place.
Emergency Assistance
If you are on or near campus and require emergency assistance, contact the University of Pittsburgh Police at 412-624-2121 or dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies off campus.
The University of Pittsburgh will continue to monitor air quality conditions and provide additional updates if conditions change. Thank you for taking the appropriate precautions to protect your health and the health of those around you.
Update 3:10pm 7/16/2026
Harrisburg, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide Code Red Air Quality Action Day for particulate matter (PM2.5) for Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will be entering Pennsylvania’s northernmost counties and pushing into southern counties Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, creating Code Red concentrations of PM2.5.
Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.
During Code Red Air Quality Alerts all residents should consider limiting their outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid long or intense outdoor activities and consider moving activities indoors.
Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Alert areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:
- Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment;
- Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use; and
Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials
Update July 16th, 2026 5:20pm
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Alert for particulate matter (PM2.5) for Friday, July 17, 2026.
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will blanket Pennsylvania on Friday, creating Code Purple concentrations of PM2.5.
Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area. Current local conditions could be more severe (Code Maroon) or less severe (Code Red or Code Orange) depending on your location at any given time. Residents should make informed decisions on their outdoor activity based on the conditions at the time.
During Code Purple Air Quality Alerts all residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities. All residents are encouraged to move activities indoors.
Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Alert areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:
- Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
- Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all. An Air Quality Alert is declared when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher.
7/18/2026 3:05pm
Harrisburg, PA – Air quality is expected to improve across most of Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as wildfire smoke continues to move out of the region. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for particulate matter (PM2.5) for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, while the rest of the Commonwealth is expected to remain in the Code Yellow (moderate) range.
Conditions have improved since Friday, when much of Pennsylvania experienced Code Purple and Code Red air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke from Canada and the northern U.S. As the smoke moves out of the region Friday evening into Saturday, rain and thunderstorms are expected to help reduce PM2.5 concentrations across much of the Commonwealth. Southeastern Pennsylvania is expected to see slower improvement because rain is forecast to arrive later, resulting in a Code Orange forecast for Saturday.
Residents are strongly encouraged to check airnow.gov for current air quality conditions in their area, as conditions may change throughout the day. Local conditions may be better or worse than the 24-hour forecast, and residents should make decisions based on the air quality where they are.
During Code Orange Air Quality Alerts, residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities. All residents are encouraged to move activities indoors.
Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Alert areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:
- Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
- Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green means good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange means unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all. An Air Quality Alert is declared when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher.
For more information about air quality, visit DEP’s Air Quality Partnership Home Page and EPA’s AirNow.
Air quality alert
A Code Orange air quality alert has been issued for Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Washington, & Westmoreland counties (PA) through 8PM. For more info on ground-level ozone and fine particles, visit airnow.gov. A code orange air quality alert means air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Who are sensitive groups: Children, Elderly, People suffering from asthma, heart disease, or other lung diseases. What do you need to do if you or someone you know is part of the sensitive group: Avoid outdoor exercising or strenuous activity.
Exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter and ground-level ozone can cause-headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat, and increased coughing.
July 15 Update: Commercial Street Bridge Replacement
As part of the Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project, pedestrians in Oakland should be aware that the timing of the lights along Forbes Avenue and Fifth Avenue has been extended. If you are waiting for the "walk" sign at intersections along both Forbes and Fifth, you will experience longer delays. For your safety, you should still only cross at designated crosswalks when given the appropriate signal to do so and only after you've checked to make sure no traffic is coming through the intersection.
Visit our transportation & walking safety page for additional tips. For project updates or sign up for Parkway East alerts: pa.gov/CommercialStBridge and for real-time traffic updates: 511PA.com.
Plan Ahead: Commercial Street Bridge Replacement
May 27, 2026
PennDOT will replace the aging Commercial Street Bridge on I-376 Parkway East to improve safety and mobility for Pittsburgh commuters. To complete this work efficiently, Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques will be used, requiring a full closure of I-376 Parkway East for approximately 25 consecutive days.
Closure Details:
- Where: I-376 between Squirrel Hill Tunnel and Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77)
- When: July 10 – August 3, 2026* (*dates subject to change)
Pitt students, faculty and staff at the Pittsburgh campus should expect heavy delays and significant congestion due to potential impacts to the Oakland area, as both Forbes and Fifth Avenues are being utilized for the Interstate Detour.
Detour Map Overview
Interstate and Local Detour
Stay Informed:
- Dial 511 or download the 511PA mobile app
- For real-time traffic updates: 511PA.com
- For project updates or sign up for Parkway East alerts: pa.gov/CommercialStBridge
PRT University Line Project News Release: New Traffic Patterns on Fifth Avenue to Begin Next Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 29, 2026) - Motorists traveling through Oakland and Uptown will see new traffic patterns on Fifth Avenue beginning next week as construction continues on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s University Line project.
The updated traffic configuration will be in place through the end of June as crews shift work zones and begin the next phase of roadway and sidewalk reconstruction.
Between Bellefield Avenue and Craft Avenue, current construction will wrap up on May 5. Traffic will then shift to the right, with three lanes remaining open while the two left lanes – including the former counterflow lane - close. This will allow crews to rebuild the roadway and sidewalks and prepare for the future two-way bike lane.
Further along Fifth Avenue – from Craft Avenue to Kirkpatrick Street – traffic will be reduced to a single through lane, with a second lane designated for turns onto the Birmingham Bridge. At the same time, construction will move to the south side of the street as crews begin sidewalk and roadway reconstruction in that section.
Work hours are scheduled for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with overnight milling and paving operations taking place between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Weekend work may occur as needed, and all construction activities are weather dependent.
For more details and weekly updates, visit rideprt.org/brt or check out the PRT News Hub.
