BLOG: Nice Stretch Ahead

Today is getting off to a tranquil start, and we'll be seeing quite a bit of sunshine around here over the next several days. There was a gusty breeze early last night as a back-door front managed to push down from the north and east, but this won't tarnish what will be a very nice day today. As we mentioned yesterday, most temperatures will be lower this afternoon, but not very far from typical levels for this time of year.

As a ridge of high pressure spreads out across the eastern third of the country, the air mass associated with it will be quite dry. So, with a clear sky and very light winds tonight, most temperatures will range from the lower-40s in those typically colder spots (especially in the sheltered valleys and other rural areas which are located well to the north and west of the bigger cities) to near 50 along the immediate coast.

Tomorrow, most temperatures will wind up in the lower-70s as the sun shines brightly once again. There are no changes to our thinking regarding this weekend's forecast. We're still on track to see temperatures climbing well into the 70s on Saturday, and both Sunday and Monday (the observance of Columbus Day) will be even warmer with afternoon temperatures very close to 80.

While some of the previous thinking in our office has been that the next chance for rain (probably during the middle or later stages of next week) would occur as the direct result of a cool front pushing in from the north and west, the potential for a storm forming along the Southeast Coast and moving up the Eastern Seaboard during the second half of next week may be an eventual "game-changer". For example, if last night's 00z G.F.S. were to verify, then some rain associated with a wave of low pressure moving up the mid-Atlantic Coast could soak the area from Thursday or Thursday night into Friday of next week. It'll be interesting to follow this over the next several days, but let's just enjoy the current pattern for as long as it lasts!!!

Have a good day.