High-latitude blocking refers to an atmospheric pattern in which higher heights (and pressure) compared to normal sets up in high latitude regions such as Greenland or northern Canada and it can remain in place for an extended period of time leading to a large-scale obstruction of surface weather systems. High-latitude blocking tends to be more likely during periods of low solar activity and that is certainly the case now as (weak) solar cycle 24 heads towards the next solar minimum. During the latter stages of winter, this type of setup can result in a persistent colder-than-normal weather pattern for the central and eastern US and perhaps stormy conditions as well. All signs point to a strong high-latitude blocking pattern to develop later this week across the North America side of the North Pole and this virtually ensures winter will not go down without a fight in March in the central and eastern US. This change in the overall pattern will also likely result in the generation of a powerful ocean storm late this week just off the Mid-Atlantic coastline and it will likely be a slow mover.
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High pressure will build into the region today and sunshine will finaly make a return following an extended cloudy and wet period. In fact, it’ll stay rather nice through mid-week with the mild conditions continuing along with some sunshine on Tuesday and Wednesday as well. A major change to the overall pattern occurs late this week and the result of this transition in the atmosphere will likely be a powerful storm just off the Mid-Atlantic coastline by week’s end. This strong system is likely to result in more soaking rainfall around here from Thursday into Friday and, as colder air wraps into the storm, perhaps even a changeover to snow or snow showers before it comes to an end.
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There has been a major stratospheric warming event over the past couple of weeks with a displacement of the polar vortex to lower latitudes and over the next several days a significant high-latitude blocking event will unfold leading to way above normal heights over places like Greenland and northeastern Canada. These large-scale atmospheric events are having an impact on weather patterns all across the Northern Hemisphere. They will be contributing factors to the extreme cold that is about to invade Europe from the east (Siberia) and to a cold pattern that looks like it will develop across much of the US during March which may feature a nor'easter during the transition period late next week.
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Areas of low pressure will push from the southwest-to-northeast over the next few days and this will continue our threat for rain right through the upcoming weekend. Today will be another rather chilly day – especially when compared to the warmth of earlier this week – but it’ll turn milder this weekend although the rain threat will continue. High pressure should finally build across the area in the early part of next week. By the end of next week, we may have to deal with a storm system near the Mid-Atlantic coastline.
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Record-warmth has been swept away from the Mid-Atlantic region by an overnight passage of a cold frontal system and the next couple of days will stay on the chilly side with occasional rain or drizzle. The weekend will feature milder conditions although still on the wet side and then much of next week looks relatively mild for this time of year. By the end of next week; however, important changes will be taking place to the overall upper-level pattern across North America. A deep upper-level trough of low pressure will begin to retrograde (i.e., move from east-to-west) to the east coast at the same time strong high-latitude blocking forms over northeastern Canada and Greenland. The ultimate result is likely to be a strong storm near the east coast at the end of next week and with colder air potentially wrapping into the system, accumulating snow may very well become a real threat in parts of the Mid-Atlantic region and Northeast US by the first weekend of March.
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Our record-breaking warmth has been swept away by a strong cold front and temperatures today and Friday will be noticeably colder with highs generally confined to the 40’s as compared with the balmy 70’s of the past couple of days. A series of low pressure systems will travel from southwest-to-northeast over the next few days and we’ll have the chance for rain or drizzle on a daily basis right through the upcoming weekend. There can be some sleet mixed in late today and through the night in areas just to the north and west of the metro area and some of the rain may freeze on untreated surfaces. The weekend will turn milder with high temperatures likely to reach well into the 50’s on each day.
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An unseasonably warm air mass has flooded the Mid-Atlantic region and this afternoon will likely feature many record-breaking high temperatures in the 70's. A cold front will slide through the region in the overnight hours and we’ll turn much more seasonable for the latter part of week, but not at all unreasonably cold for this time of year. With the cool down, there will be multiple chances for rain as wave-after-wave pushes from southwest-to-northeast over the next several days.
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Today has seen many temperature records go down across the nation with record warmth in the eastern US and record cold in the interior west. In the local area, record highs have already been set at Dulles Airport (IAD) at 71 degrees (1971) and others could fall in the next couple of hours and Wednesday promises to result in numerous record high readings across the Mid-Atlantic. It’ll turn much cooler on Thursday in the Mid-Atlantic region and there will be multiple shots at rain during the late week and weekend; especially, to the north of the PA/MD border. Longer term, signs continue to point to big changes arriving in early March which should lead to more colder-than-normal conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region and perhaps even more opportunities for accumulating snow.
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A much warmer air mass will flood the Mid-Atlantic region today following an overnight warm frontal passage. Temperatures will climb to unseasonably warm levels both this afternoon and on Wednesday and many records can go down in the Mid-Atlantic. A cold front will drive through the region on Wednesday night and we’ll turn much more seasonable for the second half of the week with multiple chances of rain.
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A fast-moving, but potent system will produce accumulating snow in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor late tomorrow and tomorrow night and some spots can receive several inches by early Sunday morning. Much colder air pours into the region late today and tonight as NW winds increase in intensity and then low pressure will head from the southern states on Saturday to a position off the Mid-Atlantic coastline by later tomorrow night. Following the winter weather this weekend, much warmer air will flood the region next week and highs by Tuesday and Wednesday may pass the 70 degree mark in much of the I-95 corridor - in other words, the snow will not last for long.
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