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Forecast: Perfect time for superb spring stretch
Here comes the sun and 60s, 70s, maybe even 80s
* 1st March without a freeze | Coming soon: NatCast & UnitedCast *
* Outside now? Temps, clouds & more: Weather Wall *
Spring ramps up with sun & rising temps. Gusty breezes keep the digit down, but it'll be up, up, up soon enough.Today: Mostly sunny. Gusty breeze. Upper 60s to near 70. | Tonight: Mostly clear. Winds become light. 40s to near 50. | Tomorrow: Mostly sunny & very pleasant. Mid-to-upper 70s. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail
FORECAST IN DETAIL
An awesome stretch of weather begins today and the timing couldn't be better: Cherry blossoms are reaching peak bloom, Easter egg hunts await, and the Nationals and D.C. United are about to open their home schedules. Get your sunscreen and, if you need it, allergy medicine ready to go. Spectacular spring conditions start to emerge today, and are here in full force (at times a little summery even) tomorrow through the weekend.
Today (Wednesday): Weather-wise, today should be the worst of the next several days -- and it still looks pretty nice. Some early-morning clouds quickly give way to mostly sunny skies with highs climbing to the upper 60s to near 70. Winds will be a nuisance, though, with morning gusts to near 25-30 mph from the northwest (that's windy enough to cost today a Nice Day Sun) before gradually weakening in the afternoon. Confidence: High
Tonight: A pleasant evening as winds decrease and temperatures drop through the 60s and eventually into the upper 50s. With light winds and mostly clear skies, overnight lows should end up in the low 40s in the coolest suburbs to the upper 40s to near 50 downtown. Confidence: High
Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend...
Tomorrow (Thursday): A nearly perfect spring day is in store with mostly sunny skies, light winds and highs in the mid-to-upper 70s. Confidence: High
Tomorrow Night: A partly to mostly clear and mild night for this time of year. Lows should be mainly in the 50s, with some upper 40s possible outside the Beltway. Confidence: High
Friday and Saturday are sure-fire winners with partly to mostly sunny skies and highs near 80 or in the low 80s. The mild days mean mild nights as well, with Friday night and Saturday night lows in the 50s. Confidence: High
On Sunday, a weak cool front may bring a little more in the way of clouds -- we'll call it partly sunny for now -- and maybe a passing shower or two. But for the most part, it looks like a fairly nice day for outdoor plans with highs in the 70s. Confidence: Medium
By
Dan Stillman
| March 31, 2010; 9:30 AM ET
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Posted by: jaybird926 | March 31, 2010 7:29 AM | Report abuse
jaybird926 - youre right! they are very sneaky. I hadn't heard this... :-P
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=404
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | March 31, 2010 8:09 AM | Report abuse
With a cold, snowy winter, spring is running doubletime to catch up. My tomato planting time, May 10 , it will have caught up
Posted by: pvogel88 | March 31, 2010 8:32 AM | Report abuse
Anyone care to comment on the heavy snow that just fell in the UK the other day?
It rarely snows in England in any year, let alone as late as March 30. This past winter the UK saw record snows, much like we did here on the East Coast. In fact when Europe had a storm this winter, a surge of cold air usually headed south in our hemisphere not long after.
Do any of the CWG see any intense bursts of cold for us in the long range forecast for April?
Posted by: tsqnova | March 31, 2010 8:57 AM | Report abuse
Camden,
I got it from the Post's Breaking News Blog.
Posted by: jaybird926 | March 31, 2010 9:27 AM | Report abuse
I can't recall the peak bloom being shifted around so much in my time here. Hopefully I can make it down there before they are gone!
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | March 31, 2010 10:14 AM | Report abuse
@tsqnova
We may cool down closer to average for a time starting toward the end of the next week. But right now, don't see any major cold blasts at least through around mid-April. The Climate Prediction Center puts the D.C. area at equal chances for normal, above-normal and below-normal temps for the month of April, though near the northern edge of higher below-normal chances (see map). El Nino, which is expected to continue through much of the spring, does not usually have a particularly strong warm or cold signal for our area as we get into spring (top left map here shows typical temperature departures from average for March-April-May during an El Nino). -Dan, CWG
Posted by: CapitalWeatherGang | March 31, 2010 11:15 AM | Report abuse
sunny and 68 only gets a 6 for the daily digit? I would have said 7 at least, maybe even 8. Hence the "somewhat subjective" notice, I guess. For hiking, biking, and other outdoors stuff, I think today's weather is ideal. Not too cool, not too hot.
Posted by: BH99 | March 31, 2010 11:47 AM | Report abuse
Historically, I can remember some rather cool El Nino springs in recent years. This year has been an exception thus far.
Posted by: Bombo47jea | March 31, 2010 12:21 PM | Report abuse
@BH99
I think you can make a pretty good argument for a '7' today. I went with '6' mainly due to the gusty winds, which are keeping things cool in the shade, and to leave plenty of upside for the gorgeousness to come tomorrow into the weekend. -Dan, CWG
Posted by: CapitalWeatherGang | March 31, 2010 1:33 PM | Report abuse
@BH99
I'm with you. Today was the day I wanted to be outside...the next few days are likely to get too hot for this cool-weather lover!
Posted by: dinergirl1 | March 31, 2010 11:52 PM | Report abuse
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If I read it right, they said the peak bloom start moved up to today.