PM Update: Warm-Up Waits for Weekend

Into the 50s Saturday and 60s on Sunday

* Wildest Temperature Swings | Tell Time Like a Meteorologist *

Partly sunny skies and cool temperatures ushered in spring today. Despite abundant sun, highs were limited to the mid-to-upper 40s, thanks to a north wind gusting over 20 mph that helped push colder air into the area. Readings should stay fairly steady through sunset before dropping back toward and into the 30s this evening.

Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Refresh page to update. See this image bigger on our Weather Wall.

Tonight: Mostly clear skies, light winds and a chilly air mass should allow most places to drop to freezing or below overnight. The range should be mid 20s in the coldest suburbs to right around freezing downtown. Winds will subside and become light from the north.

Tomorrow (Saturday): Temperatures remain cool on Saturday, but climb a bit closer to average for this time of year. Expect partly to mostly sunny skies with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Winds switch to the south and remain light.

See Camden Walker's full forecast through the beginning of next week.

Cherry Blossom Watch: The 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival starts next weekend. Original peak dates were predicted to be April 3-9, but with some warmer weather recently and more expected prior to the festival, Park Service horticulturist Rob DeFeo now believes peak will be between April 1 and 4. While we're waiting for this year's flowers, check out some photos CWG photographer Kevin Ambrose and I took last year.