BLOG: Blast Of Winter

After a rather mild day in comparison to the last week we will be looking at even warmer temperatures today. Unfortunately it will come with rainfall and bitterly cold air to follow. It's not common to get nice weather for very long this time of year, and that will be the case to close out the week and begin the last full week until Christmas!
We still expect temperatures to rise into the mid 50s across the viewing area as rain continues this morning on a strong southeasterly flow. The mid-level flow is sheared strongly to the south and this is indicative of strong warm advection and a considerable amount of isentropic lift. As such, we could be looking at a solid inch of rainfall before things gradually taper off this evening as a powerful cold front crosses through the viewing area overnight.
 
Temperatures on Monday will start off around 40 before falling into the mid 30s during the afternoon hours. Winds will be on the increase as well and a little moisture will linger such that a rain or snow shower will be possible during the afternoon as an upper-level vorticity center pivots through the Mid-Atlantic. No accumulations are expected in the Philadelphia area, but the higher terrain in northwestern New Jersey and the Poconos could see a light coating.
 
The heart of the cold will filter in on Tuesday, and with wind gusts around 30 mph it will feel like it's in the single digits and teens! Same story for Wednesday, though winds will diminish a bit and RealFeel temperatures will mostly been in the 20s during the middle of the day. A gradual warm-up is expected to end the week as the deep upper-level trough over the East heads into the Atlantic and the flow becomes more zonal. We still look dry through Thursday, though a quick moving storm system to the south could spread more in the way of cloudiness our way. We shall see, perhaps this tracks farther north than currently expected...