11:30 AM | *Frozen precipitation tomorrow morning likely to have an effect on the morning commute*
Paul Dorian
Discussion
After several consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures, milder air will try to advance into the Mid-Atlantic region on Monday, but it will initially run into serious resistance in the lower levels of the atmosphere. The deep Arctic cold that has been entrenched in the region in recent days will be reluctant to give up its ground early tomorrow as warm frontal precipitation arrives. As a result, it will likely first break out in the form of sleet and/or freezing rain before finally becoming just plain rain later in the day as temperatures slowly inch above freezing. The arrival time for this light precipitation is, unfortunately, around 4am or so – so it is likely to have an effect on the Monday morning commute. There can be a small accumulation of ice at the onset of this precipitation event tomorrow morning as temperatures hover around freezing.
The milder air wins out in earnest on Tuesday as temperatures should climb through the 50’s despite lots of clouds and more light rain, and then Wednesday could see a spurt in temperatures to above 60 degrees. The warm up on Wednesday, however, will come at the expense of some heavy rain and potential strong winds just ahead of a strong cold front that will be barreling towards the east coast. It turns much colder behind that front on Thursday and the first part of February looks quite cold.