WEATHER BLOG: Cloudy And Soggy Next Few Days

A cloudy and soggy next few days ahead staring with patchy fog and rain tonight. Temps are hovering just at-or-above freezing across most of the area, cold enough above 1000 ft or so, that we could have some frozen precipitation falling.

As a result we have a FREZZING RAIN ADVISORY in effect until Midnight tonight. http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=lwx&wwa=freezing%20rain%20advisory

We may only see a tenth to about a quarter of an inch of precipitation tonight, but it doesn't take much ice to create problems. Temperatures drop to a low near 35° at BWI-Marshall, but are expected to rise a bit after midnight. We don't expect temps to climb out of the mid 40°s Tuesday, but we should top-out about normal (43° & 27° are average high/low).

There will be a decent flow of milder air accompanying a warm front lifting into the region early Wednesday. The airmass will be moisture rich and as it gets squeezed by a cold front pushing toward us…soaking rain is likely. Rainfall amounts could average between .50" and 1.00". With temperatures on Wednesday challenging record highs near 65°, Christmas Eve will feel more like a Florida yuletide. Expect potential rain related travel delays through Wednesday, but by Christmas day we begin to dry. Dry and clearer conditions follow the rain. The trade-off will be strong gusty winds in time for the holiday. Winds behind the Christmas Eve cold front will bring gusts to or beyond 40 mph. High pressure will settle in over the Mid-Atlantic for at least the early part of the weekend. Temps will remain above normal into Saturday.