May 13, 2012: Warmer Temperatures To Persist

With a warm air mass still covering the region, today was another warm day for the region, with partly sunny skies and highs reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s from NYC and further north/west, peaking near 84 degrees in Newark, and the mid to upper 70s in Long Island/southern CT. Temperatures will cool back down into the 60s to lower 70s for the early week as occasional showers, locally heavy on Tuesday, move through the region, although temperatures in the 70s are expected to occur more frequently starting on Wednesday and beyond.


Monday - Tuesday: Showers, Locally Heavy


Areas of showers in the Southeast will move up the East Coast, providing for another two mainly cloudy and occasionally wet days. Temperatures will peak in the upper 60s to lower 70s across most of the area on Monday with mostly cloudy skies and isolated showers. During this time period, most of the rain is expected to focus over Pennsylvania, where amounts locally up to 3 inches are possible. The axis of heavier rain is expected to shift east on Tuesday, with occasional showers, locally heavy, affecting the area on Tuesday and Tuesday night. The heaviest totals are expected to end up north and west of the city, where amounts could end up above 1 inch in some areas. Locally heavy showers are also possible east of NYC, but lower amounts are expected, generally up to 1/2 inch with locally higher amounts. Most of the rain will end by late Tuesday night.


Wednesday - Next Weekend: Warmer, But Not Very Warm


As a cold front approaches, warmer temperatures are expected on Wednesday, with highs reaching the mid 70s to lower 80s across the area again. There is the possibility of isolated thunderstorms north and west of NYC, but at this time it appears more likely that little or no rain should fall during the day.

A cooler air mass will move in for the late week, with highs dropping slightly into the upper 60s to mid 70s for most places, with mostly sunny skies expected. A large warm air mass will spread into the Ohio Valley, although at the same time a cutoff low pressure will likely develop south of the region, preventing the stronger warmth from spreading in while keeping temperatures closer to average. Little, if any rain is expected at this time for the weekend, although with the cutoff in place, any potential for a more widespread warm spell will likely wait until after the 7-10 day range at the earliest, with temperatures until then staying somewhat closer to average.