Aug 20, 2012: Chilly, Then Slowly Warming Up

Forecast Highlights:

- Temperatures to slowly warm up this week, weekend
- Little, if any rain expected through early next week

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Monday, August 20 Observations:

Partly cloudy skies were observed across the area with scattered storms moving in from the west in the evening hours, affecting the western parts of the area. Temperatures were slightly warmer than the previous day (8/19) when the entire area was in the 70s, the first time this has happened since 7/20, almost a month earlier. Highs reached the upper 70s to lower 80s from NYC and further north/west and the mid to upper 70s in Long Island and southern CT.



This Week, Weekend: Temperatures Slowly Warming Up

Although some changes will take place with the pattern this week, including the trough lifting out of the region with rising 500mb heights, there is not much to say with tonight's update other than that conditions for the NYC area are generally expected to remain the same through early next week with little changes. Other than the possibility of isolated showers on Tuesday and Wednesday, dry conditions will persist. Highs on Tuesday and Wednesday will reach the upper 70s to lower 80s for most of the area, with lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s outside of NYC, dropping into the lower 50s in the higher elevations inland.

With a warmer air mass moving in along with a high pressure, less cloud cover is expected for the end of the week and into next weekend, although a cutoff low pressure may remain offshore, keeping the area under the influence of onshore winds with the warmest temperatures staying further inland. During this time period, highs will likely end up warmer west of NYC, in the lower to mid 80s with upper 80s for some days in the immediate NYC area, while locations east of NYC see temperatures in the upper 70s to lower 80s, with mid 80s possible during the warmer days. Overnight lows will gradually trend higher, with lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s expected outside of NYC by the late week.