7:00 AM | Strong storms possible as powerful cold front reaches the coast by tonight; nor'easter forms along front and affects our early weekend weather

6-Day Forecast

Today

Mostly cloudy, still warm and humid, but not quite as warm as yesterday, occasional showers and possible afternoon thunderstorms, any shower can be heavy and some of the PM thunderstorms can be strong-to-severe with heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts and hail, highs near 80 degrees

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, mild early, turning cooler late, occasional rain and a couple of thunderstorms possible, some of the rain can be heavy at times and any storm can be strong-to-severe with heavy rain, strong gusty winds and hail, lows in the upper 50’s by morning

Friday

Mostly cloudy, windy, much cooler, lingering showers likely, mid 60’s

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, chilly, still the chance for showers, mid-to-upper 40’s

Saturday

Still some clouds, breezy, cool, chance for a lingering shower or two; especially, north and east of the District, upper 60’s

Sunday

Mostly sunny, breezy, cool, low 70’s

Monday

Mostly sunny, pleasant, low-to-mid 70's

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, milder, mid-to-upper 70’s

Discussion

Big changes are on the way for the Mid-Atlantic region over the next couple of days as the pattern transitions from summer-like to rather winter-like by early this weekend with a full-fledged nor'easter developing off the Northeast US coastline. The transition from summer's warmth and humidity to yet another chilly air mass has actually already begun as the peak in the heat occurred yesterday with highs in the upper 80's in many parts of the DC metro region. Temperatures will actually drop more than 40 degrees over the next couple of days from yesterday's highs in the upper 80's to weekend lows in the middle 40's. As a powerhouse cold frontal system approaches the east coast today, there will be occasional showers and thunderstorms. Any shower can contain heavy rainfall and any thunderstorm that forms this afternoon and evening can reach strong-to-severe levels with heavy rain, strong gusty winds and hail. In fact, there will likely be scattered strong-to-severe thunderstorms up and down the east coast later today from the Carolinas to New England as this strong cold front heads to the coast.

Once the cold front reaches the east coast later tonight, a strong upper level low will dig into the Mid-Atlantic coastal region, and this will to cause the frontal system to grind to a halt as a nor’easter-type of coastal storm develops at the same time much chillier air pours into the region. As a result, Friday will turn out to be breezy and much cooler than today in the Mid-Atlantic region with lots of clouds and residual showers and, as the coastal storm only slowly pulls away to the northeast, Saturday will likely also turn out to be somewhat unsettled with some clouds, breezy and cool conditions with a lingering shower or two possible; especially, in areas to the north and east of the District. Farther north, the colder air mass will actually allow for the possibility for snowflakes to fall in some of the interior, higher elevation (>2000 feet) locations of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US early this weekend (e.g., Adirondacks, Green and White mountains). By Sunday, strong Canadian high pressure should finally take control of the weather and there will be plenty of sunshine around and that pattern will continue on Monday as well, however, both days will remain cooler-than-normal (normal high is now 77 degrees).

Video

httpv://youtu.be/pveInhfqsV0