1:15 PM | **Cold pattern continues through the upcoming weekend...low pressure system brings snow and/or rain showers on Wednesday night/early Thursday...powerful winds and Arctic cold to follow**
Paul Dorian
As the pressure difference increases on Thursday between a departing and intensifying “clipper” system off to our northeast and an incoming high pressure to the west, winds in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor can gust past 45 mph. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Overview
The month of December has gotten off to a cold start across much of the nation and it’ll stay colder-than-normal in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor right through the upcoming weekend. The potential for any significant snow during this time period is quite limited; however, a “clipper” type of low pressure system can bring snow and/or rain showers here from later Wednesday night into early Thursday and small accumulations cannot be ruled out. More important weather impacts associated with this “clipper” system will include powerful winds that can gust past 45 mph or so on Thursday and the influx of another Arctic air mass into the Mid-Atlantic region for the end of the week.
A “clipper” system will push eastward at mid-week from southern Canada to northern New England and the accumulating snow is likely to be confined to interior, higher elevation sections of Pennsylvania, New York State, and New England. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Details
Fast-moving low pressure systems that travel from southern Canada to the Northeast US this time of year are often referred to as “clippers” and one such system will have an impact in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor later this week. The precipitation associated with this low will likely not be too big of a factor around here with only snow and/or rain showers expected in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor from later Wednesday night into early Thursday. Any significant snow from this system is likely to be confined to upstate PA, upstate NY, and interior New England - locations that will be much closer to the center of the low pressure - but small accumulations cannot be ruled out in the immediate I-95 corridor.
A “clipper” system will drag a cold front through the Mid-Atlantic region on Thursday and that will usher in another Arctic air mass for the end of the week. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
As the “clipper” low departs off to the northeast on Thursday, it’ll intensify and the difference in pressure between it and an incoming high pressure system off to the west will increase markedly. As a result, winds in the I-95 corridor will increase by later Thursday and can gust past 45 mph. This strong northwesterly flow of air will flood the Mid-Atlantic region with another Arctic air mass to close out the work week and below-normal temperatures are likely to stick around right through the upcoming weekend...a modification in temperatures is expected early next week.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield
arcfieldweather.com
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