DAYS 1-5 (FEBRUARY 16-20)
At dawn today we observed another wide temperature range after a clear and calm night, with lows in the single digits above zero over most inland locations except lower teens in urban centers and ranging up to the upper teens to lower twenties at the coastline. Today, we head up to a higher level than yesterday as we see a sun/cloud mix ahead of an approaching warm front. This front will pass by tonight and prevent the temperature from falling. In fact, it will hold steady in the evening then rise later at night. By Thursday, we’ll be immersed in a southwesterly air flow that will continue to drive the temperature up. While this is going on, low pressure will be traveling northeastward along a sharp frontal boundary that will be drifting southeastward toward our area. The low center will travel from Ohio through northwestern PA, northwestern NY, and across northwestern New England Thursday night and early Friday, eventually accelerating the frontal boundary across our region during the morning hours on Friday. Widespread rain showers and gusty winds will occur during this process. Strongest wind gusts will be in the coastal plain, and additional strong gusts may occur right with the frontal passage. As we get to midday and afternoon Friday, look for dry weather to return but continued windy conditions, with falling temperatures. So an upside down temperature day where the highs occur before the sun comes up, and it goes down after. Colder air becomes established Friday night, and a low pressure area will come rapidly along from the west on Saturday, its center to pass to our north, but its energy spread out along a trailing trough that brings the chance of snow showers to our region, reinforcing colder air for Saturday night and Sunday, which will be dry as high pressure slips by just to the south.
TODAY: Sun/cloud mix. Highs 37-44. Wind SE-S increasing to 10-20 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 35-42 evening, slowly rising overnight. Wind S-SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts especially South Coast.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 46-53 South Coast, 53-60 elsewhere late day. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with numerous to widespread rain showers. Thunderstorms possible. Temperatures rise slightly to 50-57 South Coast, 58-65 elsewhere. Wind SW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts of 35-45 MPH inland and 45-55 MPH coastal areas.
FRIDAY: Cloudy start with numerous rain showers, ending west to east. Sun/cloud mix midday-afternoon. Temperatures steady 50-57 South Coast and 58-65 elsewhere early, then falling steadily to the 40s during the day. Wind SW 15-25 MPH with gusts above 30 MPH, shifting to NW.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, diminishing.
SATURDAY: Sun/cloud mix. Passing snow showers possible. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 8-15. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, but diminishing overnight. Wind chill below 0 at times.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 27-34. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (FEBRUARY 21-25)
A disturbance will pass by to the north on February 21 but it will be dry. Frontal boundary sits just to the south then moves into the region as we move through next week with a couple low pressure areas impacting the region with unsettled weather, but too early to determine details of timing and possible precipitation type(s).
DAYS 11-15 (FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 2)
Active pattern expected with a couple unsettled weather threats and variable temperatures as a boundary separating warmth to the south and cold air to the north sits nearby or over our region.