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Forecast: Cool and blustery, but increasing sun
Winds relax by Sunday
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updated at 10:30 a.m.
day's weather, on a scale of 0 to 10.
60s aren't bad, but the wind is a bit much. At least the weather is trending better into the weekend.
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Today: Windy with variable clouds. Chance of sprinkles. Mid-to-upper 60s. | Tonight: Clearing skies. Mid-40s to near 50. | Tomorrow: Sunny but windy. 60s. | Sunday: Sunny. Upper 60s to around 70. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail
FORECAST IN DETAIL
The soaking rain is gone as yesterday's storm pounds parts of New England today. Here in the D.C. area, winds are the main story through tomorrow, with sunshine setting up shop for the weekend. By Sunday, the winds should calm down enough for us to enjoy typical autumn highs in the 60s to near 70. The next chance of any appreciable rain probably doesn't come until Tuesday, and even that's iffy for now.
Today (Friday): We'll see some pretty strong breezes -- sustained around 15-20 mph at times, with gusts near or past 30 mph -- blowing from the west on the back side of yesterday's storm. Lingering energy in the upper levels of the atmosphere may mean an increase in afternoon clouds, which might even manage to squeeze out a few sprinkles. Highs in the mid-to-upper 60s are around average, but remember they'll be chilled a bit by the wind. Confidence: Medium-High
Tonight: Skies gradually clear, but 10-15 mph winds stir the air enough to keep temperatures from getting too chilly (heat can't escape easily in a well-mixed atmosphere). Lows in the mid-40s to near 50. Confidence: Medium-High
Keep reading for the forecast into next week...
Saturday's forecast map shows a Nor'easter continuing to spin off off the New England coast. The strong pressure gradient between the storm's low-pressure center and high pressure centered near the Indiana-Kentucky border means another windy day in the D.C. area. Credit: NOAA.
Tomorrow (Saturday): Continuing winds of 15-20 mph with higher gusts may prevent a Nice Day Sun. There will be abundant sunshine, though, with seasonal highs in the 60s. Good day to fly a kite? Confidence: Medium-High
Tomorrow Night: Winds finally calm down, and with partly to mostly clear skies just about everyone should get down into the 40s for lows. Confidence: Medium-High
Sunday: Let the great weather begin. Plenty of sun with highs in the upper 60s to around 70. Winds aren't completely gone, but should be closer to 10 mph and not too gusty. I, for one, am glad that UV rays are much lower this time of year. All the more reason to get out and enjoy! Confidence: Medium-High
Skies should stay partly to mostly clear Sunday night with lows in the 40s (suburbs) to near 50 (downtown). Confidence: Medium-High
Monday shapes up as partly to mostly sunny as temperatures remain enjoyable with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s. Confidence: Medium
Tuesday may see some clouds arrive. Could be some showers, too, as a ripple of lower pressure comes through. But nothing definite at this point. Highs should find themselves in the 60s to near 70. Confidence: Low
By
Camden Walker
| October 15, 2010; 5:00 AM ET
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Posted by: jbroon | October 15, 2010 8:21 AM | Report abuse
jbroon, hi there. Yes indeed they will pick up as the sun continues to warm the atmosphere. This mechanism will create bubbles (of sorts) as the atmosphere percolates. This up-and-down motion of the atmosphere will drag down higher winds from higher up in the atmosphere for which the Nor'easter is spinning. Already this morning you can see the trees beginning to move more with increasing breeze! Tonight the atmosphere will cool and stabilize a bit, after the sun goes down.
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 9:20 AM | Report abuse
Nice comma: http://www.goes.noaa.gov/GIFS/ECI8.JPG So much for Paula.
Posted by: eric654 | October 15, 2010 10:48 AM | Report abuse
Camden:
Thanks for the explanation!
Posted by: jbroon | October 15, 2010 10:51 AM | Report abuse
eric654 - Indeed, she is getting ripped apart.. will likely die over Cuba.. but eyes remain on southern Caribbean for next week. A new disturbance could form?
jbroon - definitely welcome. no problem. And have the winds increased near you, yet?
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 10:55 AM | Report abuse
Whoa, the weather feels like mid-October today; feeling shorts-circuited. Can't wait for fluffy white stuff to start wafting down from the sky.
Posted by: JerryFloyd1 | October 15, 2010 11:37 AM | Report abuse
JerryFloyd1 - it could happen next month... we are definitely feeling like the correct season now, aren't we...
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 12:16 PM | Report abuse
Speaking of snow, it seems to be snowing pretty decently in the higher elevations of West Virginia.
Posted by: Brian-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 12:30 PM | Report abuse
"... higher elevations..."
Which makes me very happy my W.Va. ridge top is a mere 1,000 feet! I like fall. I'll take October weather year-round. Winter can wait.
Posted by: tinkerbelle | October 15, 2010 12:42 PM | Report abuse
There is indeed a little pink blob on the radar south of Elkins, maybe near Pickens or Showshoe. Last time I remember snow in November was in 1989, but it's possible it happened since then.
In fact in 1989, there was snow on the ground in Washington on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. I was down at the Greenbrier for Christmas and a soft snow fell Christmas morning and we went horse-drawn sleigh riding during the afternoon.
Posted by: JerryFloyd1 | October 15, 2010 1:15 PM | Report abuse
Clarification re: above: the last time I remember HERE (in D.C.) was in 1989.
Of course, on Nov. 11, 1987, there was thundersnow, and 11.5" at DCA.
Posted by: JerryFloyd1 | October 15, 2010 1:19 PM | Report abuse
Still only a bit breezy--I was expecting gusts to 35 mph and some wind chill today. Maybe tomorrow will be rather nasty.
BTW, when's CWG's winter outlook due out??? I was expecting it right after Columbus Day--several other winter outlooks have already been posted on the Eastern U.S. weather board. [Most seem to expect more wintry-mix events but average snowfall down here by the Potomac.]
Posted by: Bombo47jea | October 15, 2010 1:32 PM | Report abuse
Winter's coming...Tom Skilling just reported minus 2F in the Yukon...either Dawson or Whitehorse. They're even colder than Siberia right now, as Verkhoyansk is reporting +5F and Oymyakon +6F.
Posted by: Bombo47jea | October 15, 2010 1:42 PM | Report abuse
Bombo47jea - hey there. Our Capital Weather Winter Outlook will continue to stick to a release timeframe of November, as in the past. Also, thanks for finding those temperature reports. I always like hearing the extremes from northern North America & from Siberia! brrrr :)
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 2:04 PM | Report abuse
Just loudly, and with great enthusiasm, exclaimed "I LIVE for CWG's winter forecast! I CAN'T Wait!" and was told to get a life by a 13 year old. She's very disrespectful, and possibly right.
Posted by: Snowlover2 | October 15, 2010 2:15 PM | Report abuse
Snowlover2 - we condone, neigh ENCOURAGE, such enthusiasm here on the CWG portal ;) - send CWG hyperlink url to the 13 yr old and they will understand... haha
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 2:41 PM | Report abuse
*nay, not "neigh" (right?)
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | October 15, 2010 2:42 PM | Report abuse
Ha! I sent the link Camden and she read it avidly. A new fan is born! (although she'd never admit it)
Posted by: Snowlover2 | October 15, 2010 11:21 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Doesn't seem so windy out there right now- are the winds supposed to pick up later?