Tranquil end to week gives way to stormy weekend

Tranquil and cold weather conditions will be in place to end the week, however trouble is brewing by tomorrow night and extending into the upcoming weekend as a major coastal storm will develop and linger off the New Jersey coast.

Today through tomorrow afternoon, high pressure will be in control with clear skies to scattered cloud cover. Winds will be from the northwest at 5 to 15 mph veering to the northeast by tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures this afternoon will rise into the upper 30’s to lower 40’s over the interior and lower to mid 40’s along the coast. Temperatures tonight will fall into the lower to mid 20’s over the interior and upper 20’s to lower 30’s along the coast for lows. High temperatures tomorrow will rebound into the upper 30’s to lower 40’s over the interior and mid 40’s along the coast.

A disturbance currently developing over the Southwestern United States will rapidly move towards the Ohio River Valley by Saturday morning. Clouds will steadily increase tomorrow evening with the threat for widely scattered to isolated rain, sleet, and snow showers. Little to no accumulation is expected over the region. Winds will be from the east and northeast at 10 to 20 mph. Temperatures will hold in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s throughout the northern Mid Atlantic, which naturally will limit any snow or ice accumulation.

By Saturday night, the low pressure system will continue to develop and move off the Delaware coast. Winds will back from the east to northeast at 10 to 20 mph. Periods of rain can be expected, becoming heavier and more wide spread towards evening. Temperatures will range from the upper 40’s to lower 50’s over the interior and lower to mid 50’s along the coast.

The low pressure system will stall off the Delaware and southern New Jersey coast Saturday night on through Sunday with periods of rainfall expected. The low pressure system will then meander off the Mid Atlantic coast Sunday night on through Tuesday morning with periods of showers at times along the immediate coast. The exact track of this storm remains uncertain along with the potential impacts. However, at this time, the primary impacts from this storm will be coastal flooding, strong wind gusts over 40 mph at times, and rain. The potential for frozen precipitation from this storm is still possible but very small given the latest data. However, these details may still change. Temperatures through the period will range from the lower to mid 30’s over the interior and upper 30’s to lower 40’s for lows and upper 30’s to lower 40’s over the interior and mid to upper 40’s along the coast.

The storm will exit New England by Tuesday night into Wednesday with a few scattered snow showers possible. Temperatures will be much colder and well below normal. Low temperatures will range from the lower to mid 20’s over the interior and upper 20’s to lower 30’s along the coast. High temperatures will range from the mid to upper 30’s throughout the northern Mid Atlantic.