11:45 AM (Tuesday) | **Wind gusts of 50 mph possible late tonight and Wednesday in the Mid-Atlantic region associated with the next strong cold frontal system**
Paul Dorian
This loop of forecast 850 millibar (~5000 feet above ground level) winds that extend from early this evening into early Thursday morning suggest there can be gusts as high as 50 mph associated with this next strong cold frontal system. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Overview
Winds will be rather strong for much of today in the Mid-Atlantic region with gusts up to 35 mph or so; however, a more intense and longer-lasting wind event is in store for late tonight and Wednesday associated with the next strong cold frontal system. That next cold front will be trailing a “clipper” low pressure system that passes by to the north on Wednesday, and it can help to generate 50 mph wind gusts from late tonight into late Wednesday. In terms of precipitation, there can be some snow shower/snow squall activity on Wednesday afternoon as this next cold front arrives and, as with today’s frontal system, most of the activity will be limited to the northern Mid-Atlantic.
The pressure gradient will be tight across the Mid-Atlantic region on Wednesday between departing strong low pressure to the north and an incoming high to the west. As a results, winds will become quite strong and can gust to 50 mph or so as another strong cold front closes in from the northwest. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Details
Back-to-back cold fronts are impacting the northeastern part of the nation with snow showers and snow squalls, and some strong wind gusts. The snow showers and snow squalls both today and on Wednesday will be generally limited to the northern Mid-Atlantic region from around central PA to points north and east of there. It is certainly possible that a snow shower or two can makes their way into the Philly-to-NYC corridor, but most of the activity should stay to the north of Philly. The winds today can gust to 35 mph or so into the PM hours, and an even more intense and longer-lasting wind event is likely from late tonight into late Wednesday.
There can be snow showers and isolated snow squalls later tomorrow associated with the next strong cold front; primarily, to the north of the PA/MD border. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Low pressure will pass by to the north on Wednesday and it’s trailing cold front will approach the Mid-Atlantic region from the northwest. Winds should increase during the morning hours and can gust to 50 mph or so by mid-day and well into the afternoon hours as the front approaches. As the frontal boundary zone crosses the area late tomorrow, there can be some rain and/or snow shower activity and perhaps even an isolated heavier snow squall. As has been the case with today’s strong cold front, the best chances for precipitation on Wednesday will be across the northern Mid-Atlantic region north of the PA/MD border.
A warm front will push northward into the Mid-Atlantic region on Thursday night and it may be just cold enough at the onset in the wee hours of Friday morning for snow, sleet or freezing rain; especially, across the northern half of the area. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Winds should drop back noticeably by later tomorrow night as a fresh batch of Canadian air reaches the Mid-Atlantic region, and it’ll turn out to be colder on Thursday along with a late day increase in cloud cover. The increasing clouds later Thursday will be associated with a warm frontal system extending to the east from Midwestern low pressure, and rain is likely late Thursday night and on Friday. At the onset of the precipitation, it may be just cold enough for some snow or sleet to be mixed in with the rain across the northern Mid-Atlantic region and the initial rain can freeze on some surfaces across some of the northern and western suburbs. Temperatures in all areas of the Mid-Atlantic region should climb to well above freezing on Friday (well up in the 40’s) assuring “plain” rain for the region as we end the work week.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield
arcfieldweather.com
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