Temperatures have been below-normal for about twenty days in a row in many spots of the Mid-Atlantic region and the relentless cold pattern that started around Thanksgiving Day is about to come to an end. It turns milder for today and Thursday as high pressure shifts to the east of here and mild conditions will begin the day on Friday just ahead of the passage of a strong cold front. That front will result in a soaking rain event for the Mid-Atlantic region from later tomorrow night into Friday morning and there can be a rumble of thunder as well. The rain will be heavy at times and combined with snowmelt in many areas of the Mid-Atlantic region can produce ponding of water by early Friday so be on the lookout for that to take place. Once the front clears the coast by mid-day Friday, temperatures will drop from the mild levels of the morning, and winds will pick up noticeably from a northwesterly direction…gusting into the 40-50 mph range.
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The next big weather event in the Mid-Atlantic region will feature rain associated with a strong cold front and there can even be a thunderstorm in the mix before the frontal system clears the area. The rain can come down hard at times from late Thursday night into Friday morning and - given the current snow cover in much of the area – we’ll have to watch for the possibility of some localized flooding. The strong cold front will pass through the Mid-Atlantic region during Friday morning, and strong winds will develop on its backside from a northwesterly direction gusting to 40 mph or so...even higher wind gusts are likely across New England. In addition, temperatures are likely to drop markedly as the cold air mass pours into the region and snow showers are likely to develop; especially, in some of the higher elevation interior locations. The weather will settle down for the weekend with dry conditions expected on both days and a moderate chill in the air.
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Another cold day is in store for the Mid-Atlantic region today as high pressure slowly shifts to our south before weakening and pushing offshore on Wednesday. A warm front will push northward through the area by Thursday and temperatures should reach the low-to-mid 50’s for afternoon highs. An active cold front will slide across the region late Thursday night and rain is likely into the early morning hours on Friday. On the heels of the cold frontal passage, winds will pick up noticeably on Friday and (moderately) colder air will make a return into the northeastern part of the country.
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Arctic air pushed into the region on Sunday on the heels of the latest “clipper” system and it’ll stay quite cold right through tomorrow with well below-normal temperatures for the middle of December. High pressure will be in control at mid-week and it’ll turn slightly milder and then a strong cold front enters the scene on Thursday night. That frontal system can bring soaking rain to the area - perhaps even a thunderstorm - and the winds will get very strong by Friday as colder air pushes into the northeastern states (moderately cold air mass this time).
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The first widespread snow event for the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor will take place from later tonight into Sunday morning and this snow event will be followed by bone-chilling cold and biting winds for the rest of Sunday, Sunday night, and Monday. Low pressure will quickly move today across the Plains, Midwest and Ohio Valley and will get a boost later tonight as it reaches the Mid-Atlantic region thanks to strong support in the upper atmosphere. A powerful jet streak will intensify overhead of the I-95 corridor later tonight enhancing upward motion in the area and the result will be an accumulating snowfall focused on the overnight hours and the early morning hours on Sunday. The precipitation could break out as a mixed bag this evening in some areas, but will change to all snow later tonight.
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The next in a series of Arctic air masses will begin to plunge into the north-central states later today and this one will be brutal...potentially the worst of the bunch since the cold pattern developed around Thanksgiving Day. Temperatures this weekend can drop to 20 degrees below zero in parts of the region from Montana to Wisconsin and wind chills can reach dangerously low levels. Meanwhile, yet another “clipper” system will begin to organize later today out across the north-central states and then push east-southeast on Saturday crossing over central Plains, Midwest and Ohio Valley. This system will reach the Mid-Atlantic region on Saturday night and will be supported aloft by a vigorous jet streak that will enhance upward motion in the area. The result will be accumulating snow from Saturday night into Sunday morning in the Mid-Atlantic region and this includes the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor. Bitter cold and strong winds will follow for the rest of Sunday, Sunday night, and Monday.
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The next in a series of “clipper” systems will weaken today as it pushes into the Mid-Atlantic region and this will limit its impact around here with little to no snow expected in the local area. By tonight, another Arctic air mass will invade the north-central US from Canada, and this one will be brutal...perhaps the worst of all since this cold pattern got cranking around Thanksgiving Day.
Meanwhile, yet another “clipper” system will head in an east-to-southeast direction on Saturday crossing over the central Plains, Midwest and Ohio Valley, and this is the one with the greatest potential of producing accumulating snow in the Mid-Atlantic region...including the I-95 corridor. When this system arrives on Saturday night, it looks like it will have quite a bit of upper-level support; specifically, in terms of a powerful jet streak. This jet streak is likely to generate strong upward motion across the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday night and Sunday morning assuring there is no weakening as compared with today’s “clipper” system. The result is likely to be accumulating snow here from Saturday night into early Sunday which may begin briefly as a mix of rain and snow. Preliminary snowfall estimates are 1-3 inches for this area with isolated higher amounts possible.
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In the wake of yesterday’s “clipper” system, another Arctic air mass is pouring into the northeastern states on stiff NW winds and temperatures today will struggle to climb from early day levels. In addition, snow showers are likely in parts of the area and heavier snow squalls can develop causing travel headaches across some interior, higher elevation locations. Another “clipper” system will reach the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday, and it’ll gradually weaken during the day as it loses some of its upper-level support and this will limit its impact on the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor.
By later tomorrow, the next Arctic air mass will plunge into the north-central US from Canada and this one will be brutal...potentially the worst of the bunch since the cold pattern developed around Thanksgiving Day. Temperatures this weekend can drop to 20 degrees below zero in parts of the region from Montana to Wisconsin and wind chills can reach dangerously low levels. Meanwhile, yet another “clipper” system will push east-southeast crossing over central Plains, Midwest and Ohio Valley on Saturday and then into the Mid-Atlantic region by Saturday night. This system will feature some strong support in the upper atmosphere with a vigorous jet streak and has the potential of producing accumulating snow in the Mid-Atlantic region from late Saturday into early Sunday. Arctic air that invades the north-central states on Friday and Saturday will then spread to the northeastern states on Sunday following the passage of this next “clipper” system.
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One “clipper” system passed well by to our north and west on Wednesday and the passage of its trailing cold front has ushered in another very cold air mass for this time of year. Temperatures will struggle to climb through the 30’s today and there will be a stiff NW wind to make it feel even colder than the actual air temperatures. On Friday, another “clipper” system will weaken as it reaches the Mid-Atlantic region and likely only be able to produce a touch of snow in some areas.
Over the weekend, yet another “clipper” system will push east-southeast towards the Mid-Atlantic region from the Ohio Valley, and this one will feature some strong support in the upper atmosphere with a vigorous jet streak. As a result, this system will have greater potential to generate accumulating snow in the Mid-Atlantic region from late Saturday into early Sunday. Another seriously cold Arctic air mass will follow for the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday time period with far below normal temperatures expected throughout the northeastern states.
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The next several days will feature multiple “clipper” low pressure systems across the northern US which are typically rather quick movers from northwest-to-southeast. One such system will track well to the north and west of the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor later today bringing windy and slightly milder conditions to the I-95 corridor along with the threat of a few rain showers. A second “clipper” system will push towards the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday from the Ohio Valley. While this system may begin to weaken upon its approach, it can still produce some snow on Friday in parts of the Mid-Atlantic region including the DC metro and parts of Virginia (a hot spot so far this winter season for snowfall).
Over the weekend, yet another “clipper” system will push east-southeast towards the Mid-Atlantic region from the Ohio Valley, and this one will feature some strong support in the upper atmosphere with a vigorous jet streak. As a result, this is the most impressive to me of all of these “clipper” systems with the highest potential of producing accumulating snow in the Mid-Atlantic region (late Saturday into early Sunday). One final note, the Arctic blast that reaches the north-central US by early this weekend and then the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast US by early next week will feature some of the coldest air yet in this relentless cold weather pattern that began around Thanksgiving Day. Temperatures can drop to twenty degrees below zero by Sunday morning across a wide portion of the Upper Midwest from Minnesota-to-Iowa-to-Wisconsin.
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