The week will start off with temperatures far below-normal for the latter stages of March and afternoon highs confined to the mid-to-upper 30’s. In addition to the cold, the winds will remain quite strong producing even lower wind chills and snow showers are likely to become numerous in the Mid-Atlantic region during the mid-day and afternoon hours. The atmosphere will become quite unstable after a couple hours of “spring-strength” sunshine combined with the winter-like cold conditions aloft. Any snow shower or heavier snow squall can put down a quick minor accumulation during the mid-day or afternoon hours. Warmer air to our south and west will make an advance in this direction at mid-week and the initial overrunning of the cold air may result in a bit of rain, sleet or snow on late Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Dramatically warmer air will win out by Thursday and there will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms as a strong cold front approaches from the west.
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In what seems to becoming more and more of an annual tradition, winter is going to make a comeback in early spring. Colder air will begin to make its presence felt later today in the Mid-Atlantic region; especially, in the upper part of the atmosphere where the freezing level will lower. As a result of the increasing cold air aloft, the atmosphere will become quite unstable and there will likely be “hit or miss” thunderstorms during the mid-day and afternoon hours. Given the lower freezing level aloft, hail or graupel (snow pellets) can be experienced in some areas during any gusty shower or thunderstorm later today. Winds will increase in strength tonight from the northwest and continue quite strong on Sunday and the passage of a secondary cold front will usher in very cold air for this time of year and below-freezing conditions for late Sunday night and late Monday night. There will be snow showers possible on Sunday associated with the secondary cold front and perhaps even a few heavier snow squalls for interior sections of the Mid-Atlantic..
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After a relatively mild day today, the weekend will turn progressively colder and NW winds will increase in strength following the passage of two cold frontal systems. With the arrival of the initial cold front on Saturday, the atmosphere will become very unstable and there is a good chance for some rain shower activity and maybe a rumble or two of thunder. It is also possible that ice pellets mix in with the rain at times as the colder air filters into the region. Temperatures on Sunday will be confined to the 40’s for afternoon highs and below-freezing conditions are likely late Sunday night and again late Monday night. It stays colder-than-normal on Tuesday and will have to watch for the threat for some rain, ice and/or snow at night or on Wednesday as warmer air tries to return.
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Occasional showers will be the rule around here through tonight as a secondary low pressure system forms near the northern Mid-Atlantic coastline and a thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. After a relatively mild day on Friday, the weekend will turn increasingly cold and NW winds will intensify following the passage of two cold frontal systems. With the arrival of the initial cold front on Saturday, there can be a few rain showers and perhaps even a bit of sleet or graupel (i.e., snow pellets) mixed in at times late in the day. Temperatures on Sunday will be confined to the upper 40’s for afternoon highs and below-freezing conditions are quite likely late Sunday night and again late Monday night. In fact, it stays quite a bit colder-than-normal for the latter part of March right into the middle part of next week.
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The calendar says its spring, but as has been the case in many recent years, winter will not go away without a fight. A cold blast will arrive in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US on Saturday and by the time we get to the early part of next week, temperatures will be far below-normal for the latter part of March. In fact, this cold air outbreak will likely bring temperatures to below the freezing mark in most areas in the overnight hours early next week making outdoor sensitive plants quite vulnerable to damage. In addition to the cold, the chance for snow (or other forms of frozen precipitation) will return this weekend to the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US and there may be other threats coming this way later next week.
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One low pressure system will push to our northwest during the next 24-36 hours and a second one will form off the Mid-Atlantic coastline. The result around here will be periods of rain from this afternoon into early Friday and a strong thunderstorm or two can be mixed into the picture. Looking ahead, an impressive cold blast will arrive in the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend and highs on Sunday threaten to stay in the upper 40’s raising the possibility of near or slightly below-freezing readings by early Monday morning in many suburban locations and again early Tuesday morning (i.e., watch out for sensitive outdoor plants).
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Spring has sprung, but that is not quite the end of the cold air outbreaks for the Mid-Atlantic region and the Northeast US. In addition, snow cannot be ruled out for interior sections this weekend with the influx of cold air and perhaps there will be another snow threat early-to-mid next week.
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Rain is headed to the Mid-Atlantic region for the period from later tomorrow into early Friday as one low pressure system pushes to our northwest and a secondary forms off the coastline. High pressure will remain in control here for today, but clouds will increase later tonight and rain is likely to develop during the PM hours on Wednesday. Looking ahead, an impressive cold blast will arrive in the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend with highs on Sunday likely confined to 50 degrees or below and a chance to go below freezing on Sunday night.
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There is a rocket launch scheduled for tonight at the NASA/Wallops Island facility and it may be visible to residents in the Mid-Atlantic region. A two-stage suborbital sounding rocket is scheduled to be launched in the window between 7 and 10 PM for a mission managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The purpose of this mission is to increase the understanding of the boundary layer transition, turbulent heating and drag on vehicles flying at hypersonic conditions.
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The biggest weather story of the work week in the Mid-Atlantic region will be a rain event from Wednesday into at least Thursday night and then a cold blast of air will arrive this weekend. High pressure will be in control from today into tomorrow and then low pressure will move to the northwest of here from later Wednesday into Thursday resulting in occasional rain across the area. In addition, a secondary low will form off the coastline extending the rain event into Thursday night or perhaps even early Friday. A strong cold front will arrive here this weekend ushering in a pretty cold air mass for the latter part of March.
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