Forecast: A Blustery Blow

Milder later this week; rain-free

A cold front plows through the region this morning, with chilly air pouring into the region for the next couple of days. By tomorrow and Wednesday, temperatures will be more than 10-14 degrees below average, and more characteristic of what we'd expect a month from now. Temperatures moderate some late this week, before another cold front knocks them back down for the end of the weekend. For the duration of this temperature see-saw, expect generally dry weather.

TODAY (MONDAY)

Partly sunny, breezy and cooler. 55-59. The aforementioned cold front blasts through the region early this morning, causing winds to pick up and dropping temperatures from yesterday's level. Afternoon high temperatures will struggle to hit 60, with winds from the northwest at 10-20 mph. Sky conditions will likely vary from mostly cloudy this morning to a mix of sun and clouds this afternoon.

Partly cloudy and cold overnight, with lows in the mid 30s in the colder suburbs to near 40 downtown. A wind from the northwest at about 10 mph will add to the chill.

Confidence: Medium-High

Keep reading for the forecast through the week.

TOMORROW (TUESDAY)

Partly sunny and blustery. 49-54. The combination of low pressure developing off New England and high pressure building in from the west will direct strong winds from the northwest over the area. Winds should reach 10-20 mph with higher gusts. With temperatures struggling to reach the low 50s, the wind chill factor will be in the low 40s or colder for much of the day.

Overnight, it will be variably cloudy, breezy and quite cold. Lows will drop down into the low 30s in the colder suburbs and the upper 30s downtown. A weak disturbance dropping southward will likely produce some snow showers and flurries in the mountains and it's not inconceivable that a few conversational flakes make it east of mountains early Wednesday morning (e.g. in places like Leesburg and Frederick).

A LOOK AHEAD

Wednesday should be the coldest day of the week with highs only near 50. It may not feel as cold as Tuesday though as the gusty winds subside. Wednesday night will likely be clear and very cold with lows in the mid 30s in the District and down to the mid-to-upper 20s in the colder suburbs. Confidence: Medium-High

Temperatures begin to rebound late in the work week, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s Thursday and all the way into the mid 60s for Halloween, Friday. Overnight lows warm from 32-40 (suburbs-city) Thursday night to 35-43 (suburbs-city) Friday night. Confidence: Medium-High

Both weekend days will likely be dry, but a cold front should pass through Saturday night, cooling it down for Sunday. High temperatures in the mid 60s Saturday drop back to the mid 50s on Sunday. Confidence: Medium