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Forecast: Warming Trend Begins
Some snow may mix with light rain tonight
It will be wintry today, and if you look really hard late tonight, you might see a snowflake. But temperatures will gradually rise during the week as winter continues its long, slow fade. Does this warming trend signify the death of winter? Not so fast, I say. Some cold air may loom for late next weekend.
Clouds increase, cool. Mid to upper 40s. Spotty light rain/snow tonight. Sunshine to start the day will be covered up by clouds in the afternoon. Subfreezing early morning temperatures will rise to the mid to upper 40s but stop there due to the cloud cover.
Overnight, a weak area of low pressure will bring a 40% chance of light rain that could mix with or briefly change to light snow before ending after midnight. Low temperatures will drop to around freezing inside the beltway to the upper 20s in the colder suburbs.
TOMORROW
Mostly sunny. Near 50. Temperatures will be cooler than average but not cold. Chilly high pressure will deliver enough sunshine for high temperatures to near 50. Clear and cold overnight, with lows from the upper 20s in the colder suburbs to the mid 30s downtown.
Keep reading for the forecast for the rest of the week...
WEDNESDAY
Partly cloudy. Low 50s. A weak front will move through the region that will generate some clouds, shift the wind (from out of the southwest to out of the northwest), but not produce any precipitation or a noticeable temperature change. Afternoon highs should reach the low 50s.
Overnight, skies will be clear most of the night, but some clouds may increase towards morning, with lows ranging from near freezing in the colder suburbs to the upper 30s downtown.
A LOOK AHEAD
A warm front moving through the region Thursday morning may set the stage for a nice and mild afternoon, with temperatures in the upper 50s. Friday will continue on the mild side with highs near 60, although clouds will likely increase.
The weather scenario next Saturday appears awfully similar to what we experienced last Saturday, with an intensifying area of low pressure approaching from the southwest dragging a strong cold front through the region. Of course, given Saturday is six days away, it's too early to predict a repeat performance but some rain and wind seem like a decent possibility. Right now, Sunday looks dry but cooler with highs in the 40s.
By
Jason Samenow
| March 10, 2008; 5:00 AM ET
Categories:
Forecasts
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Posted by: weatherdudeVA (Lake Ridge) | March 10, 2008 5:28 AM | Report abuse
I agree with Jason, we may see some wet snow late eve. or overnight. 850 mb. temps will support, surface temps. marginal, except high elevations. 06z runs a little juicier than 00z. generally up to .10 liquid.
Fri. and Sat. looks interesting. ECMWF brings the storm center to Richmond by 8 pm Sat. while the GFS runs the Mason-Dixon line a little faster. Probably mostly rain,but bears watching.
With the NAO trending negative, late March looks colder than normal with some possible early spring, winter like storms.
9am: 28 degrees, mostly cloudy, calm in the Valley.
Posted by: Augusta Jim | March 10, 2008 8:22 AM | Report abuse
Great time for a negative NAO, right when we're starting to think Spring!
DanceCast this week: Tomorrow night at the Clarendon Ballroom looks like the first dry dance in a while. Friday night at the Arlington/Fairfax Elks Lodge could be another rainy "windbag" as the Weather Channel is now calling these storms. However, Sterling is now saying the high pressure could be briefly overhead Friday night, before another storm comes in Saturday, just in time for my grocery errands!
Boy, they're really pushing St. Patrick's Day early this year! Evidently the Roman Catholic Church says we can't observe it next Monday since it comes during Holy Week and for some reason Saints' Masses aren't "allowed" if Holy Week intervenes. Thus the Saint Patrick's Day Mass will be observed early this year!
Posted by: El Bombo | March 10, 2008 10:08 AM | Report abuse
Hello weather gang, Last week and this weekend the Potomac river stage was very high -- eight feet at Little Falls on Friday (!) -- as opposed to a normal level of three to four feet, and boaters were warned to stay off the river...have you considered including a discussion of river stages on your blog? PS i love your blog and read it every day.
Posted by: river girl | March 10, 2008 11:51 AM | Report abuse
river girl: Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoy the blog. A discussion of river stages is a good idea. We'll add that to our list of things to write about.
Posted by: Capital Weather Gang | March 10, 2008 12:18 PM | Report abuse
For whatever its worth. I found this on wunderground. Many will disregard it but I found it interesting.
Here ya go:
Posted by: Conman | March 10, 2008 12:25 PM | Report abuse
conman and you a con man?
Posted by: missy | March 10, 2008 12:43 PM | Report abuse
"are" you a con man?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 10, 2008 2:39 PM | Report abuse
There will be NO, I repeat NO late March winter storms. This is not allowed. Among other reasons, the Cherry Blossoms are supposed to be at their peak then.
Posted by: ep | March 10, 2008 4:18 PM | Report abuse
CWG,have you guys ever thought of putting multiple "Forecasts at A Glance" available at the top of the page? For instance, could you put forecasts specific to different parts of our region, such as the western suburbs and southern suburbs? The weather can vary a lot between different parts of the DC region, and it might be useful to have the ability to switch the area that the Forecast is for by clicking on a link, similar to the way you can click "IAD" to change the current wx displayed to IAD's conditions.
Posted by: paul j. | March 10, 2008 9:26 PM | Report abuse
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Oh geez Jason, you had to go an mention the possibility of a flake or two tonight. Now there are going to be 50 comments screaming WINTER IS OVER STOP PREDICTING SNOW!!!!! LOL ;)
If the forecast for next weekend holds up, it looks like a storm with (hopefully) beneficial rain is starting to come through every week or so. If it keeps up that will be GREAT news for all of the areas that need it! I would imagine that the last few storms have put a dent in our drought, right?