WEATHER BLOG: Friday
We are expecting clouds as well as some sun today.
Temperatures will remain well below the seasonal averages and will be mostly in the 20s this afternoon. As full clearing takes place this evening, a ridge of high pressure will be building into the Eastern Region... it'll be a fairly strong area of high pressure, which is forecasted to have central pressure of greater than 30.50 inches.
With that in mind, the wind will be almost non-existent tonight and tomorrow. So, the temperature will plummet sharply tonight, and it will be near or below zero in many outlying areas, and the larger cities should be in the lower teens. Dry weather is expected through at least through mid-afternoon on Sunday along the I-95 corridor, although we're still looking at increasing clouds in the morning.
There'll be a strong push of moisture associated with warm advection originating from a body of low pressure out in the Midwest. So, even though temperatures on Sunday afternoon should be an average of 3-6 degrees higher than tomorrow's, there should be an area of light snow (and ice) streaking out across the Ohio Valley and through central parts of Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
By early on Sunday night, the I-95 corridor and many of the larger cities will be susceptible to getting a period of snow or flurries -- and most of the global models show steadier precipitation reaching the coast late on Sunday night and early Monday. Precipitation in areas north of the Mason-Dixon Line Sunday night will just be in the form of snow, and there can be enough of it to make untreated roads and sidewalks slick prior to Monday morning's rush.
'This wave of precipitation won't waste much time moving through the Eastern Region, and most of it should come to an end by mid or late morning on Monday.
We need to mention that there could be a bit of sleet or freezing drizzle occurring around here on Monday, since warmer and drier air above the boundary layer should mix down to the surface, and that has a tendency to change precipitation over to something other than snow (perhaps just plain rain along the immediate coast) before it ends.
Our preliminary thoughts on snowfall accumulation are that there will be an inch or two in New York City and Philadelphia, as well as on Long Island and in central New Jersey.
Amounts farther to the south (generally in the Greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas) may be 'cut in half' because there could be some sleet or rain thrown into the mix as early as 10 p.m. or midnight on Sunday night After that precipitation wraps up on Monday afternoon, clouds should manage to break for a little sun and most highs will be in the upper 30s or the low 40s.
It appears there will be 'no rest for the weary' next week, since another fast-moving wave is expected to pull out of the central Plains Monday night or early Tuesday morning... This has the potential to bring snow, sleet and rain to much of the Eastern Region Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Have a good weekend!!
