Forecast: We Need Rain, and May Just Get Some

Several rain chances over next several days

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Partly sunny early, then mostly cloudy. Near 50. | Tonight: 30% chance of early-evening showers. Better chance late evening & overnight. Low 40s. | Tomorrow: Overcast. Chance of a.m. showers. P.M. periods of steadier rain. Low 50s. | A Look Ahead

FORECAST IN DETAIL

There's cool rain in the forecast and that's good news. Not for those of us yearning for spring sun and warmth. But for the region as a whole, which is moisture-starved and edging toward a full-fledged drought if we don't get substantial precipitation soon. So get ready to pick your spots for outdoor time -- today and Friday should be mostly dry -- but also have some indoor ideas should tomorrow and the weekend be rather rainy.

Temperatures: Current area temperatures. Powered by Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Hover over and click icons for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Refresh page to update. See map bigger on our Weather Wall.

Today (Wednesday): We start the day partly sunny. But by late morning or early afternoon we're looking at mostly cloudy conditions with highs near 50. Some showers could arrive (30% chance) during the evening hours (approximately the 7 p.m.-11 p.m. range). Confidence: Medium

Tonight: Showers, probably of the light to moderate variety, are a better bet (50-60% chance) during the late evening and overnight (from 11 p.m. or so onward). Lows mainly in the low 40s. Confidence: Medium

Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend...

Tomorrow (Thursday): We keep the 50-60% chance of showers through the morning, with periods of steadier rain likely from midday into the evening. Highs are once again on the cool side -- low 50s -- under overcast skies. Confidence: Medium

Tomorrow Night: Rain ends overnight with partial clearing possible. Lows in the 40s. Confidence: Medium-High

A LOOK AHEAD

Between weather systems, I think an area of high pressure will give us a pretty nice day for much of Friday with partly sunny skies and highs in the low 60s. The threat of showers may enter the picture again toward evening. Confidence: Medium

Friday night doesn't look like a washout, but we do need to allow for a 40% chance of some showers as a little system passing mainly to our south tries to catch us with its northern edge of preipitation. Lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Confidence: Medium

Another storm system and associated cold front could make for a mostly cloudy and showery weekend with highs in the upper 50s to near 60, and lows Saturday night near 50. Probably not the forecast you were hoping for, but remember we need some significant rain soon if we're going to avoid more serious drought conditions. Confidence: Medium

By Dan Stillman |  March 25, 2009; 9:45 AM ET Forecasts
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Comments

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What are the latest chances we will see rain in the Silver Spring, MD area on Sat and Sun? Is it going to be a steady rain, chance of showers, etc?

Posted by: snowlover | March 25, 2009 8:22 AM
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Big weekend for soccer tournaments. I hope the rain is of the "showery, keep the dust down" variety, rather than the "gully-washer, close the fields" variety. After Sunday, it can rain all it wants!

Posted by: jburksva | March 25, 2009 10:00 AM
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andrew, steve, jason,
looks like PROJECT JIM is gaining traction over at realclimate! http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/03/with-all-due-respect/langswitch_lang/wp#more-663

Posted by: walter-in-fallschurch | March 25, 2009 10:34 AM
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Rain potential: Late tonight until early Friday morning; up to 0.6" and showers to steady rain w. this first storm. The second storm this weekend [Sat./Sun.] may have more potential for severe weather/thunder. A third storm next Tuesday into Wednesday offers additional rain potential. These storms offer the chance of triple-point passage near or just north of the Metro area. Only downside for me is that I have a couple of library books due tomorrow and can't renew. It's an awful hassle trying to lug that stuff in during a rainstorm!

The effect on my dance weekend is spotty. Biggest hit is Saturday night if I go to Glen Echo and again Tuesday evening at the Clarendon Ballroom, but my Elks Lodge dance Friday night seems rather dry [for now!] as does Monday evening at Chevy Chase. The rain tomorrow is a BIGGER irritant due mainly to that unavoidable Library errand!!!

Posted by: Bombo47jea | March 25, 2009 1:05 PM
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