12:30 PM | **Major League cold blast arrives just in time for baseball’s Opening Day on Thursday in many places such as D.C., Philly, New York City and Boston…snow is even on the table**

Much colder-than-normal air reaches the eastern states on Thursday and it’ll remain well below-normal on Thursday night and Friday as well before a warm up during Easter weekend. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com

Overview

It has been a long time since fans have actually attended Major League Baseball (MLB) games and that ritual will resume this coming Thursday, April 1st, which is Opening Day for many teams.  Unfortunately, the weather may be an issue in such places as the Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US - as is often the case early in the season - with an impressive cold blast likely to arrive just in time to chill those fans planning to attend games on Thursday.  There is even the chance for some snow across interior sections of this part of the country on Thursday and strong NW winds will no doubt make it quite uncomfortable for fans that return to MLB ballparks for the first time since the 2019 season.

Bryce Harper at Citizens Bank Park in Philly (image courtesy CBS Sports)

Details

Not too surprisingly, the weather has been quite nice this spring in Arizona and Florida for baseball’s spring training games that began in early March.  In fact, it has been recording-breaking warm at times during the past few weeks across Florida and Arizona making for some great baseball weather for the limited number of fans that have been allowed to attend games at spring training sites. And also not too surprisingly, the weather may be a factor when MLB breaks camp next week and heads north for its early season games of the 2021 season and it just so happens an impressive cold blast may coincide with Opening Day in the northeastern quadrant of the nation.  Strong NW winds and much colder-than-normal air may indeed have an impact on numerous home openers on Thursday and snow or snow shower activity is even on the table in some parts of the northeastern quadrant of the nation.  Specifically, the following locations will likely be impacted by this cold shot and the strong winds on Thursday: Philadelphia (Phillies vs Braves), New York City (Yankees vs. Blue Jays), Washington, D.C. (Nats vs. Mets), Detroit (Tigers vs. Indians), Boston (Red Sox vs. Orioles), Cincinnati (Reds vs. Cardinals) and Chicago (Cubs vs. Pirates).  

Another vigorous system will impact the Tennessee Valley/Mid-Atlantic on Saturday night and Sunday and it could generate severe weather. Map courtesy NOAA

In terms of the upcoming weather pattern, another soaking rain event is headed to the Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US late Saturday night and Sunday and much like this last system, severe weather may be involved.  A very strong upper-level wave of energy could result in some more severe thunderstorm activity during the latter half of the weekend in the area extending from the Tennessee Valley to the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US.  Following the late weekend passage of a cold front, the work week will start off on the cool side in the Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US, but temperatures will modify on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Another strong cold front will drop southeast from Canada early next week and it is likely to reach the I-95 corridor region in the eastern states by late Wednesday or Wednesday night. 

Not only is cold and snow a threat for baseball’s Opening Day next Thursday, but winds will be quite strong from the NW as a tight pressure gradient develops between strong low pressure off the east coast and an approaching Canadian high pressure system. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com

Following the passage of the strong cold front, colder-than-normal air will flood the region from the Upper Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US and to make it even more complicated, low pressure may form along the frontal boundary zone once it reaches the eastern seaboard.  As a result, snow or snow shower activity is within the realm of possibility on Thursday in some of the northeastern quadrant of the nation; especially, across interior, higher elevation locations. 

A cold blast arrives in the eastern states on Thursday, April 1st - just in time for baseball’s home openers in numerous locations. The cold blast may very well be accompanied by some snow on Thursday; especially, across interior, higher elevation locations of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com

In addition to the chill and possible snow on Thursday, baseball fans and players will likely have to endure strong NW winds as a tight pressure gradient will form between the departing low pressure system off the east coast and an approaching Canadian high pressure system.  Temperatures could drop below the freezing mark in this upcoming cold shot later next week - even in the I-95 corridor. It’ll remain quite a bit colder-than-normal on Friday in the Upper Midwest/Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US, but, as is rather typical of this time of year, the chill will give way to some milder weather conditions by the time we get to Easter weekend. 

Time to play ball…well…maybe.

Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Perspecta, Inc.
perspectaweather.com

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