Feb 12, 2011: April-Like Warmth Next Week

Note: The 5-Day Forecast was updated for the western parts of the area, and will be updated
further east later tonight.

Graphics will be added to this discussion later tonight.

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After a mostly sunny day yesterday, cloud cover increased overnight with scattered snow showers currently affecting parts of the area. These isolated snow showers will continue through the evening, however from this point temperatures will get even warmer, reaching the upper 30s to mid 40s across the area tomorrow with a few snow showers in the morning, with Monday expected to reach the 50 degree mark in parts of the immediate NYC area.

Temperatures will slightly cool down for Tuesday, however will quickly warm up by the end of the week, even reaching the lower to mid 60s for NYC on Friday! This would be at least 20 degrees above the average high temperature for this time of the year, and is more similar to the average high temperature of April. Temperatures will cool down afterwards, but while a more stormy pattern may develop after the 21st, the main theme appears to be wet, not white.


Tomorrow's Outlook:

Tomorrow will bring cloudy skies across the area. An area of light snow in the Northeast will affect parts of the area, bringing light snow tomorrow morning to the central and western parts of the area, with any precipitation in the afternoon falling in the form of light rain. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s for the western and eastern parts of the area, with lower 40s for the immediate NYC area. A southwest wind is expected.



Monday - Tuesday: Warm, Then Briefly Cooling Down


On Monday, a clipper in the Northeast is expected to bring snow to the northern and central parts of the Northeast, and will bring a cold front through the area later in the afternoon. With partly to mostly cloudy skies, 850 mb temperatures near 5 degrees celsius, and a southwest wind expected, high temperatures will rise well into the 40s for most of the area, and if there is enough sunshine, temperatures may reach the lower 50s for NYC and further south/west. The cold front will be a dry one, with no rain expected for the area.

Overnight, temperatures will cool down into the 20s for most of the area and potentially the upper 10s inland as a much colder air mass moves into the region, and while temperatures on Tuesday cool down, they won't be very cold, in the mid to upper 30s for most of the area and some lower 30s inland. While this is not very cold considering how cold it has been this winter, it is still slightly below the average high temperature for this time of the year.


Wednesday - Saturday: April-Like Warmth

On Wednesday, as a southwest wind returns along with partly sunny skies and a warmer air mass, temperatures will warm up quickly, reaching the mid 40s to lower 50s across the area for highs. The overnight hours may bring increased cloud cover and potentially an isolated shower or two, though Thursday will continue to warm up, with highs in the lower to mid 50s across most of the area.

Friday will be the warmest day, as 850 mb temperatures rise to near 10c along with partly sunny skies and a southwest wind, and temperatures will rise well into the 50s for most of the area. The immediate NYC area is expected to see high temperatures reach the lower 60s, with mid 60s possible in the warmer case scenario.

As a storm moves through the Great Lakes overnight and into southern Canada on Saturday, a cold front is expected to move through, bringing the risk of showers and temperatures dropping back down to colder levels on Sunday. A storm may be possible around the 21st, though the precipitation type is uncertain at this time. Stay tuned for more information on this potential storm.