Monday PM - **Pleasant weather to start the month of August and likely one of the nicest weekends of the summer...some heavy rain likely during the transition later in the week**
Paul Dorian
The upcoming weekend may just turn out to be the nicest of the entire summer season in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast/Great Lakes with very comfortable temperatures and moisture levels (dew points in the 50’s along the I-95 corridor). Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Overview
High heat and humidity will persist in the Mid-Atlantic region through mid-week with high temperatures well up in the 90’s each afternoon, but there is significant relief in sight and the transition from here-to-there may feature some heavy rainfall. A slow moving cold frontal system will approach the area late Wednesday and then only be able to grind its way through on Thursday as low pressure forms along the frontal boundary zone. Showers and thunderstorms are likely on Wednesday night and Thursday and some of the rain can be heavy at times as we transition from the current heat to the comfort coming at the end of week. The arrival of the pleasant air mass on Friday will coincide with the calendar flip from July to August and the first several days of the new month look quite comfortable from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. In fact, this upcoming first weekend of August could turn out to be one of the nicest of the entire summer season with comfortable temperatures and low humidity levels.
Low pressure is likely to form along a slow-moving cold frontal boundary zone on Thursday as we transition from the current high heat and humidity to much more comfortable conditions coming here by week’s end. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Details
Temperatures should reach 90+ degrees in most spots today across the Mid-Atlantic region and are likely to soar into the middle and upper 90’s on both Tuesday and Wednesday. This 3-day heat spell will be accompanied by uncomfortably high moisture levels (dew points in the 70’s), but big-time changes are on the horizon.
The transition from today’s high heat and humidity to the expected end of the week comfortable air mass may come with some heavy rainfall on Wednesday night and Thursday as low pressure forms along the incoming frontal boundary zone. Map courtesy NOAA, Weather Bell Analytics
A slow-moving cold frontal system - backed up by strong “Canadian-borne” high pressure - will push south and east across the Great lakes at mid-week and will approach the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US on Wednesday night and Thursday. This frontal system will get “hung up” for awhile on Thursday in its advancement to the south and east as low pressure forms along its boundary zone. The combination of the surface front and low pressure will likely result in showers and thunderstorms from late Wednesday through Thursday night and some of the rainfall can be heavy at times.
The month of August will get off to a pleasant start across much of the eastern half of the nation with temperatures averaging at below-normal levels for the period of August 1st to August 8th. Map courtesy ECMWF, Weather Bell Analytics
By Friday morning, the cold front will push off the east coast and though there can be a lingering shower or two, the overall trend will be for clearing skies as a comfortable air mass reaches the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US. The pleasant weather conditions will continue through the weekend with dew points at very comfortable levels in the 50’s and there should be plenty of sunshine on both days. Temperatures will be well below-normal for the beginning of August on Saturday and Sunday in what may turn out to be one of the nicest weekends of the entire summer season.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield
arcfieldweather.com
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