One thing a snow lover in the central and eastern US is rooting for during the wintertime is a “high-latitude blocking” pattern in the upper part of the atmosphere as it is often favorable for sustained cold air outbreaks and potentially accumulating snow. One way meteorologists can monitor the likelihood for this type of weather pattern is to track a teleconnection index known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). If this index falls into “negative” territory for a sustained period of time during the wintertime – a snow lover’s dream – it is often associated with sustained colder-than-normal weather in the eastern and central US and an increased chance for accumulating snow. Here we are now into the month of April and the largely absent “-NAO” pattern this winter season has finally arrived with “high-latitude blocking” likely for the next week or two across the northern latitudes. This may not lead to snow this time of year – although stranger things have happened – but it does signal the likely continuation of cold air outbreaks into the central and eastern US through at least the middle of April.
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Low pressure is pushing off the North Carolina coastline this morning and it’ll head to the northeast out over the open waters of the western Atlantic. It will not, however, continue in this direction for much longer before it encounters a blocking pattern in the upper part of the atmosphere which will lead to an unusual movement in coming days as it will retrograde back towards the Northeast US. The offshore storm will likely result in unsettled conditions around here during the next few days with plenty of clouds today thanks to chilly air aloft which makes it unstable as well as plenty of low level mositure. On Thursday, as this offshore system strengthens and begins to loop back around towards the coast, the NW winds will pick up in intensity gusting to 25 mph or so. By Thursday night or early Friday, a band of clouds may actually drop southwestward through the Northeast US and into the Mid-Atlantic region as the offshore low makes its closest approach. Over the weekend, high pressure from our west is likely to bring about more settled conditions around here and milder temperatures.
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Low pressure will push off the Carolina coastline later tonight and make a move to the northeast out over the open waters of the western Atlantic. It will not, however, continue in this direction for too long before it encounters a blocking pattern in the upper part of the atmosphere which will lead to an unusual movement in coming days as it will retrograde back towards the Northeast US. This low pressure system is producing rainfall today across the southern Mid-Atlantic and then, as it retrogrades back around late this week, it could swing a band of clouds and showers from northeast-to-southwest through the Northeast US and into the Mid-Atlantic region.
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A cold front passed through the region late yesterday and it’ll turn out to be noticeably cooler today compared to Monday. Low pressure is pushing east across the southern US and will exit off the Carolina coastline later tonight and it'll generate plenty of clouds for the region as well as a good chance for some shower activity. High pressure will build across the region for the second half of the week resulting in mainly rain-free conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region.
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There will be improvement in the weather today following an unsettled weekend and temperatures will climb to rather comfortable levels this afternoon near the 70 degree mark. High pressure will build across Canada as we begin the new work week at the same time moisture will be increasing in the south-central US. Low pressure will form during the next couple of days over the Tennessee Valley and, while some of its moisture will reach the area, the worst of its impact will stay to our south.
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Today will turn out to be a decent day with partial sunshine and mild conditions, but occasional rain is headed our way for the weekend. A cold front has dropped through the region and it’ll stall out to our south by tonight. This front will turn around on Saturday and head northward as a warm front producing more rain in the area - some of it can be heavy at times - and then a cold front will approach on Sunday with additional showers likely and perhaps an afternoon or evening thunderstorm. There is the threat for another storm by the middle of next week, but it is still unclear as to how far to the north and east it will come.
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The active weather pattern that we have been experiencing across much of the nation in recent days will continue at least into the middle of next week. Low pressure over the middle of the nation this weekend will keep much of the eastern half of the nation unsettled and there are signs that a significant storm may form by the middle of next week. The potential is there for a strong storm to develop next week in the south-central US and then head northeast towards the Mid-Atlantic region and it could have a wide-ranging impact on a large part of the eastern third of the nation.
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There will be a brief break in the action today from our recent wet weather pattern with a pretty nice day in store and high pressure building into the region. However, another unsettled and wet period begins late tonight and continues into the upcoming weekend. Low pressure will ride along an approaching cold frontal system on Friday and there can be showers associated with it from late tonight into early Friday. This front will stall to our south by the beginning of the weekend and then turn around and come back north as a warm front. As a result, more rain is likely on Saturday and then as a cold front approaches late in the weekend, additional showers will be possible on Sunday. There is the threat for another storm by the middle of next week which could become quite strong and expansive and potentially have an impact on much of the eastern third of the nation.
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The wet weather pattern of recent days continues today as another low pressure system impacts the region with some rain or drizzle and it'll be quite chilly for this time of year. There will be a brief break in the action on Thursday with a pretty nice day in store as high pressure builds into the region, but then another unsettled period begins on Friday. Low pressure will intensify over the middle of the country over the next few days and a frontal system will extend eastward from this low all the way to the Mid-Atlantic region. This frontal system and its associated low pressure will be the focus area for showers around here from Friday through much of the weekend. Looking ahead, there is the threat for another storm by the middle of next week which could be quite strong and potentially have an impact on much of the eastern third of the nation.
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Our active weather pattern continues, but there will be a brief break in the action for today and part of tonight. High pressure builds into the region on Tuesday, but another low pressure system will result in more rain for the region from late tonight into Wednesday. The late week is likely to turn unsettled as well after another brief respite in the action on Thursday. A nearly stationary frontal system will extend in a general west-to-east fashion from low pressure in the middle of the country to the Mid-Atlantic region. This stalled out frontal system and its associated low pressure system will be the focus area for showers from Friday well into the weekend.
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