Forecast: Spring Swelters Like Summer
Today: Mostly sunny, isolated p.m. t-storms. 87-90 | Tonight: Clear, mild. 55-63. | Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, hot. 88-91. | A Look Ahead
FORECAST IN DETAIL
The heat wave continues! Abundant sunshine and temperatures up to 20 degrees higher than average continue to toast the mid-Atlantic for the next few days. Whatever you do, make sure to bring along the sunglasses and sunscreen, you'll need both while outdoors. By Wednesday temperatures return to normal, with more chances for showers and thunderstorms in the forecast.
Today (Sunday): The preview of our summer swelter continues today. Plenty of sun will launch the mercury into the upper 80s during the afternoon, with a few isolated pockets of 90 scattered about. Some late day cumulus clouds may develop at the peak of our heating, and with any enhancements from a bay breeze or a weak disturbance to our north, a few brief thundershowers cannot be ruled out. Winds will be out of the west at less than 10 mph. Confidence: High
Tonight: Quite a pleasant night is in store if you feel like christening the deck or patio for the season. Mostly clear skies will abound and temperatures will only fall to around 60 degrees (some 50s in the cooler suburbs, low 60s downtown). Light winds from the southwest will diminish through the night. Confidence: High
Keep reading for the forecast through your mid-week...
Lightning from last night's storms. By CWG photographer Ian Livingston.
Tomorrow (Monday): A retrograding high pressure system off the coast edging back inland will keep the skies mostly clear through the day and push our highs to the upper 80s to lower 90s. Winds will continue from the west/southwest at 5-15 mph. Confidence: High
Tomorrow Night: Tomorrow night should seem familiar, nearly a carbon copy of tonight. Clear skies continue and overnight lows will again range from the low 60s downtown to the upper 50s outside of the beltway. Winds will be light. Confidence: Medium-High
Tuesday continues to bring well above average warmth. Mostly sunny skies and temperatures once again in the upper 80s prevail area-wide. Clouds may begin to arrive during the evening and there's a small chance for a few overnight showers. Confidence: Medium-High
Wednesday we'll see our summer heat come to an end, though don't expect a return to the 50s any time soon. We'll also begin a stretch of unsettled weather with the chance for some showers/t-storms through the day. Skies will otherwise be mostly cloudy, and your highs will reach the low-to-mid 70s. Confidence: Medium-High
By Brian Jackson |
April 26, 2009; 9:45 AM ET
Forecasts
Previous: Forecast: Spring Heat Wave is Sprung |
Next: Forecast: Heat Hangs on Through Tomorrow
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | April 26, 2009 10:14 AM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Do you really need sunscreen more when it's 90 than when it's 70, for a given time of year and cloud cover? That doesn't sound right. Maybe you were just being metaphorical with the summer like weather.
On a more important note, I see that later in the week we're back down into the 70-range. This spring to me seems like the most rapidly-varying in history. Like if you looked at the average single-day (absolute value) change since March, this year would be right up there. I'm curious to know if that is just my imagination. Does anyone keep those kind of stats (readily accessible)? I'd love to know.
Posted by: B2O2 | April 26, 2009 11:57 AM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Already at 90° or above:
Frederick
Leesburg
Culpeper
Ft. Meade
College Park
Ocean City (!)
Manassas
Posted by: CapitalClimate | April 26, 2009 11:58 AM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
B2O2,
You're correct that UV exposure is a function of
(1) sun angle (day of year and time of day)
(2) cloud cover
Today's noon sun angle of 64.5° is equivalent to mid-August, regardless of temperature.
Posted by: CapitalClimate | April 26, 2009 12:46 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
When last night's storm hit, I was already inside the Spanish Ballroom...thunderstorms are primarily a threat when I'm outside TRYING to get a bus to the dance, unfortunately more of an issue during afternoon/evening hours.
Most of yesterday evening was clear, but there was a beautiful red sunser w. visible virga at Glen Echo Park. Volcanic impact possible from Mt. Redoubt dust.
Today continues a slight risk of moderate to severe evening thunderstorms. Later this week the period Wednesday through Saturday shows rain potential as an east-west frontal boundary moves through us Wednesday, stalls in southern Virginia or NC and moves back as a warm front on Friday. Rain/thunderstorms could affect my Tuesday and Friday evening dances, with minimal impact tomorrow night.
Posted by: Bombo47jea | April 26, 2009 12:50 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
IAD at 90 now, record there today is 92.
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | April 26, 2009 12:58 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Joining the 90°F/32°C club:
Fredericksburg
Baltimore/downtown
Ft. Belvoir
Dulles
Stafford
Posted by: CapitalClimate | April 26, 2009 1:02 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Posted by: CapitalClimate | April 26, 2009 1:23 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
If its already 88 degrees in Arlington, I am thinking a high of 88 is about 5 degrees off.
Posted by: wecndo | April 26, 2009 1:31 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
National joins the 90°F/32°C club @ 2 pm.
Posted by: CapitalClimate | April 26, 2009 1:55 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Hm, National's 32°C was 31.7°, so it's only 89.1°F.
Posted by: CapitalClimate | April 26, 2009 2:24 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
National has hit 90 in between obs.
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | April 26, 2009 2:35 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
My, not-so-reliable, station has 93 here in Columbia.
Posted by: Brian-CapitalWeatherGang | April 26, 2009 3:58 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Rarrr!!!!
Posted by: SnowMonsterDC | April 26, 2009 10:29 PM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
What a perfect evening for a cookout -- the temperature was perfect with a slight wind, no rain... and best of all, the summer mosquito season hasn't started yet!
Posted by: stuckman | April 27, 2009 12:31 AM
Share This: E-Mail | Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
The comments to this entry are closed.
Temperatures already in the 80s many places.. mid 90s might not be out of the question for places like IAD. DCA looks to top 90 today at this rate as well.