Forecast: Slight Warming, Showers Tomorrow Night

By Brian Jackson

Temperatures will moderate through Monday ahead of the next cold front. This front could bring more accumulating snow to the western mountains but our area will see mostly rain showers late tomorrow and tomorrow night. After the front passes, a dry chill returns Tuesday through Thanksgiving.

TODAY (SUNDAY)

Sunny and not as cold. 46-49. We'll warm up about 10 degrees from yesterday but we'll still see our highs below normal for this time of year. Despite a strong appearance from the sun, highs will only reach the mid-to-upper 40s for most of us. Compared to yesterday (and especially Friday), breezes will be less noticeable. Expect winds from the west diminishing to 5-10 mph.

Under partly cloudy skies, overnight lows will once again plunge into the low-to-mid 20s in the suburbs to the upper 20s downtown. Winds will be light.

Confidence: High

Keep reading for the forecast through your Thanksgiving holiday.

The back end of a snow squall Friday as photographed from Route 109 near Barnesville, Md. By Capital Weather Gang visitor Jack Toomey.

TOMORROW (MONDAY)

Becoming cloudy, rain late. 50-55. A wind from the south (at about 8-15 mph) ahead of a cold front will help temperatures rise back to near normal. The timing of this front seems to be consistently slowing and should not pass over us until the overnight. Still, clouds will thicken throughout the day with chances (50%) for rain increasing into the afternoon and evening hours. Highs should manage to break the 50 degree mark. If the sun is able to hold off the clouds during the morning hours, mid-50s is not out of the question.

Monday night brings the frontal passage and rain along with it. It will be mostly light in nature and totals should stay less than a quarter of an inch. Rain should end during the early morning, possibly mixing with snow in the north and west suburbs. Overnight lows will seem somewhat mild compared to recent nights bottoming out in the upper 30s downtown with low-to-mid 30s in the cooler suburbs.

A LOOK AHEAD

After the possibility of some early morning snow flurries, skies remain mostly cloudy on Tuesday. Behind the front, temperatures will return to below normal levels with highs in the low 40s. If you dislike the cold, a gusty northwest wind won't help matters much. Confidence: Medium-High

If you're traveling around the area on Wednesday, the roads will be dry. Expect a mix of sun and clouds during the day with highs reaching the chilly mid-to-upper 40s. Confidence: Medium-High

Thanksgiving Day will feature the epitome of crisp and cool late fall weather. I doubt anyone will be enjoying their turkeys on the deck or patio anyway. Skies will be mostly sunny with your highs once again topping out in the upper 40s. Confidence: Medium-High