BLOG: Messy Weather Ahead

Milder air is on the way across the Northeast, but it will come at a price with a good deal of rainfall expected on Sunday as well. That said, expect the mercury to climb into the 40s for the first time in several days throughout the region. It's amazing how near normal temperatures will feel so warm given how cold we've been recently, but that's what we're going to experience to kick off the second to last weekend before Christmas! Expect some sunshine today, but clouds will be on the increase by the afternoon with overcast skies by the evening.
 
Saturday night will feature rain as a warm front moves northward from the Virginia Capes and heads through the Mid-Atlantic. By Sunday we wind up in the warm sector with temperatures rising into the low 50s across the area... but with rain expected once again we won't have the opportunity to really get out and enjoy the mild weather. A powerful cold front will approach the area late in the day and cross through the viewing area overnight. Rain will come to an end, perhaps even mixed with a few snowflakes (especially to the north/west), and temperatures will fall off into the 30s... where they will stay for Monday as much colder air arrives to begin the work week. And with wind gusts expected to run in the 25-30 mph range it will feel even worse.  

The heart of the cold will filter in on Tuesday with Wednesday likely the coldest day in this cold snap. Some areas to the north and west may not make it to freezing once again... 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. Other than a stray snowflake Monday or Tuesday, we will be dry through at least Thursday. We may have to deal with a quick moving storm system on Friday, we shall see.
 
Have a great day!