WEATHER BLOG: Temps In The 70s Friday & Saturday; Sandy Gains Momentum

While there could be some breaks in the clouds early, there should be some fog developing once again late Thursday night. The ideas are still intact that high pressure Friday and on Saturday should bring no less than partial sunshine and unseasonably warm afternoons. But, just how warm it can get in most places will be determined by just how much fog develops, and how long it persists. Nonetheless, most temperatures across the region Friday and Saturday should reach the 70s.

Sandy has ramped up in its intensity quite a bit during the night, and it made landfall in Eastern Cuba as a strong Category One storm on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Now, all eyes are on the Bahamas as the storm continues to head to the north-northwest at around 20 mph. Even portions of South Florida (the Atlantic Coast) may feel some of its effects during the next day or two.

While that storm is being watched closely, we're also going to be keeping up with a cold front. This strong front, located in the Plains states early Thursday morning, will be marching eastward during the next 48 hours and should reach the northern and central Appalachians by early Saturday morning. This front is going to be slowed to some extent by the bubble of high pressure which will be anchored just off the Northeast Coast for a while, but it will eventually bring an increase in clouds later on Saturday or Saturday night, followed by the chance for a couple of showers.

The possibility of showers is something that has been added to Sunday's forecast, but these really won't have anything to do with Sandy-- because it is projected to be located between the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bermuda on Sunday morning. But, it is important to remember that there will be a fairly strong ridge of high pressure located in the North Atlantic late this weekend and early next week. This "blocking high" should be an important role-player in the future movement of Sandy. Also, there'll be a strong upper level trough that will be digging into the eastern third of the nation Sunday and Monday that could bring snow to higher elevations toward the western edge of Maryland.