Team Weather Playbook

Pittsburgh Pirates Weather Playbook: Allegheny River Wind, Division Environments

By Kevin Roth, sports meteorologist. How weather affects the Pittsburgh Pirates at home and on the road.

Home advantage

PNC Park sits on the north bank of the Allegheny in downtown Pittsburgh. Southwest wind, funneled along the river from the west, blows out to left and center. River-valley channeling means wind at the field can differ from surface observations at Pittsburgh International, so ASOS reads a few miles away undershoot the wind at the field.

Division road environments

NL Central variance includes Wrigley wind, GABP hitter-friendly Cincinnati, Milwaukee retractable, and Busch Stadium St. Louis heat. Wrigley direction and Milwaukee roof are the biggest variables.

For DFS and bettors

Southwest wind days at PNC with warm humid conditions produce the friendlier hitting environment. Right-field porch is close, so left-handed pull power benefits most from wind out to right.