A nasty storm system will impact the Mid-Atlantic region over the next couple of days with strong winds and significant rainfall and localized flooding will likely become a serious concern given the already well-saturated grounds. As the storm rides up to the west of here on Friday, warmer air will surge up the Atlantic seaboard and it’ll become spring-like with high temperatures slightly above the 60 degree mark to go along with strong southerly winds. Strong to-severe thunderstorms are possible today across parts of the Southeast US and especially over the state of Florida and there can even be a couple of thunderstorms in the I-95 corridor during this upcoming soaking rain event. It’ll turn colder and windy late Friday night and Saturday following the departure of the storm and Sunday promises to be dry, cold and sunny.
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High pressure will continue to control our weather today, but clouds will increase late tonight and early Thursday as yet another strong storm system develops in the southeastern states. Moisture will spread northeastward on Thursday and rain is likely to develop here during the afternoon hours and it’ll be heavy at times on Thursday night and Friday and there can be a few thunderstorms mixed into the picture. Given the already well-saturated grounds, localized flooding will likely become a concern during this latest in a series of soaking rain events. Rain totals for the year at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and BWI (Marshall Airport) have already broken records for the year with 64.22 and 68.82 inches respectively - more than 25 inches above normal at DCA and 28+ inches above normal at BWI. Colder and drier air will pour into the region on Saturday following the storm and winds will become quite strong out of the northwest.
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High pressure will build into the area today and it’ll stay below-normal with temperatures generally confined to the lower 40’s for highs. The winds will continue to be quite strong this morning, but will tend to diminish later in the day and even further in the overnight hours. Moisture will spread northeastward on Thursday from the southern states and we’ll experience yet another soaking rain event from later Thursday through Friday. Colder air will pour into the region on Saturday following the rain storm and winds will be quite strong out of the northwest as we begin the weekend. One final note, skies should be favorable tonight for the viewing of the green "Christmas comet".
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We did indeed surpass the record for wettest year ever this weekend, but now we’ll have a few days to dry out before yet another large-scale rain event takes place. A strong cold front is passing through the region today and winds will pick up in intensity as the day progresses from a northwesterly direction. It’ll turn colder-than-normal by tonight and the chill will stick around through mid-week. Another widespread rain event is coming here later in the week as milder air pushes northward along the eastern seaboard. The likely timetable for this next rain event is Thursday night and Friday and showers may linger into Saturday. One final note, Comet 46P/Wirtanen made its closest approach to Earth on Sunday and there may be an opportunity to look for it later tonight following many recent cloudy nights...best bet is to look near Pleiades late in the evening.
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A complex weather pattern is unfolding for the weekend that will feature multiple surface low pressure systems supported all weekend by the volatile combination of a deep and slow-moving wave of upper-level energy. As a result, the threat for precipitation will extend from late today into Sunday night and it is likely to come in two waves. The front end is likely to feature occasional plain rain in the Mid-Atlantic region from late today into early tomorrow night, but the back end forecast becomes a bit trickier for the period from late tomorrow night into Sunday night. Colder air will seep into the Mid-Atlantic region during the second half of the weekend and this could lead to a mix with or a changeover of the rain to snow and/or sleet; especially, in areas to the north and west of the big cities along the I-95 corridor. Another cold shot will arrive late Monday following the departure of the complex weekend storm and NW winds will become quite strong by Monday night and early Tuesday as Arctic air floods the region.
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A broad area of moisture will push northeastward today from the southern states and rain is likely to overspread the area by the mid-to-late afternoon and then continue off and on through much of the upcoming weekend. This upcoming rain event could put the DC region over the top in terms of the record for wettest year ever as only 0.55 inches is needed to break the record of 61.33 inches set in 1889. This unfolding complex pattern will feature two surface low systems - one headed towards the Tennessee Valley and the other to the Mid-Atlantic coastline - and it’ll be supported by a vigorous and slow-moving wave of energy in the upper part of the atmosphere. Colder air will begin to seep into the area during the latter stages of the weekend and there is a chance that any lingering rain could mix with snow and/or sleet before it winds down; especially, in the higher elevations to the west and north. Once the complex system pulls slowly away from the east coast on Monday, the door will open for another cold shot to arrive from our northwest and this cold blast will be accompanied by another wave of energy in the upper atmosphere. Consequently, winds should increase noticeably later Monday and Monday night and they’ll continue to be quite strong on Tuesday as well from a northwesterly direction and a snow shower is possible.
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A weak system is sliding to our north today and it's precipitation field is generally confined to areas north of the PA/MD border. A stronger system will generate a soaking rain event in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor beginning late tomorrow and continuing well into the weekend as it’ll be a slow mover. The rainfall from this upcoming event could actually put the DC region over the top for wettest year on record (need 0.55 inches to break the record set in 1889). On the heels of the weekend storm, another cold shot will arrive on Monday and it will be supported by vigorous energy in the upper atmosphere which could result in strong winds in the Northeast US and scattered snow showers.
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There has been a bit of a lull this week in the recent active weather pattern, but that will change in coming days and there are three different systems that bear watching between today and early next week. The first system is likely to produce some nuisance snow in areas primarily well to the north of the Mason-Dixon Line from late tonight into mid-day tomorrow and there can be some slippery road conditions. The second and stronger system will generate a soaking rain event in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor from late Friday into Saturday morning and the rain can linger in late Saturday and even into Sunday as it’ll be a slow mover. On the heels of the weekend storm, another cold shot will arrive on Monday and it will be supported by vigorous energy in the upper atmosphere which could result in strong winds in the Northeast US and numerous snow showers.
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High pressure remains in control today and we’ll experience another cold and dry day in the Mid-Atlantic region. An upper-level disturbance will slide north of here on Thursday and there can be a few rain or snow showers across the far northern suburbs of the District. A strong low pressure system will develop in the south-central US later in the week and spread moisture into our area by later Friday. Odds favor rain around here during this upcoming event and some of it can be heavy at times on Friday night and Saturday morning.
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High pressure has resumed control of our weather and today will be another cold and dry day in the Mid-Atlantic region. A weak disturbance will slide across the region late tomorrow night and early Thursday and it could set off some snow shower activity. A strong low pressure system will develop in the south-central US late in the week and spread moisture into our area later Friday and into the upcoming weekend. Odds favor primarily rain around here during this weekend upcoming event and some of it can be heavy at times, but some frozen precipitation cannot be completely ruled out at this time on both the front and back ends of the storm.
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