7:00 AM | **Slow-moving system brings us lots of rain this week with the heaviest rainfall centered on Tuesday night and Wednesday**
Paul Dorian
6-Day Forecast
Today
Thickening clouds, cool, showers likely by late in the afternoon, highs in the low 60’s
Tonight
Cloudy, chilly, periods of rain or drizzle, lows in the upper 40’s
Tuesday
Cloudy, breezy, chilly, periods of rain or drizzle, upper 50’s
Tuesday Night
Cloudy, breezy, chilly, rain, heavy at times, low 50’s
Wednesday
Cloudy, milder, rain, heavy at times, maybe a thunderstorm or two, upper 60’s
Thursday
Mainly cloudy, quite mild, showers still possible, maybe a thunderstorm or two, mid-to-upper 70’s
Friday
Partly sunny, mild, upper 60’s
Saturday
Partly sunny, mild, showers possible, upper 60’s
Discussion
An “omega-shaped” upper level blocking pattern is unfolding early this week and the result will be an extended period of rainy weather in the Mid-Atlantic region and also in much of the eastern half of the nation. The rainy weather pattern will begin later today around here and continue right into Thursday with the heaviest rainfall likely centered on Tuesday night and Wednesday. After a decent start to the week temperature-wise, it'll become much colder-than-normal on Tuesday with highs in the upper 50's at a time when the normal high is around 70 degrees (at Reagan Airport). While the rain can come down hard at times tonight and on Tuesday, it appears that tomorrow night and Wednesday could feature flooding downpours and the chance for strong thunderstorms. By the time Thursday morning rolls around, many areas in the Mid-Atlantic region may very well have received more than 3 inches of rain.
Elsewhere, the deadliest outbreak of tornadoes this year occurred yesterday with more than thirty reported across Oklahoma and Arkansas. There will likely be another tornado outbreak later today - perhaps another twenty or so - likely centered just to the east of those areas hardest hit on Sunday in places like the Tennessee Valley. The good news is that the severe weather threat will diminish significantly after today and another quiet period should return to that part of the country.
Video
httpv://youtu.be/si900iVUFwM