Aug 29, 2012: Chilly Temperatures Tonight

Forecast Highlights:

- Lows to drop into 50s, some 40s tonight
- Brief heat surge for Fri/Sat, 90s for highs expected
- Rain associated with Isaac's remnants likely early-mid next week

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Wednesday, August 29 Observations:

Behind a cold front on Tuesday, a noticeably cooler air mass moved into the region for Wednesday, with 850mb temperatures only near 10C. Mainly sunny skies were observed with a high pressure on top of the region, with highs slightly cooler than expected, in the mid to upper 70s inland and in Long Island, and the upper 70s to lower 80s in most of the immediate NYC area and southern CT.



Forecast Overview:

Tonight will bring the coolest temperatures to the area in a week, since the last significant trough brought widespread lows in the 50s and some 40s for interior areas. Clear skies are expected with light winds and 850mb temperatures near 10C, allowing for temperatures to drop into the mid 40s to low 50s inland (NW NJ, interior SE NY), low to mid 50s for most places north/west of NYC and in southern CT, as well as the cooler spots in eastern Long Island, upper 50s in the immediate NYC suburbs, and upper 50s to low 60s in NYC.

This cool down will only be short lasting, however, as the high pressure over the region will slide to the southeast, allowing for a more westerly flow to develop at the surface and aloft with a warm air mass currently near the Midwest surging east into the region. Temperatures will quickly warm up into the mid to upper 80s for most places on Thursday, a bit cooler further east, with widespread upper 80s to low 90s expected on Friday with 850mb temperatures approaching 20C.

This warmth surge will be short lasting as well, however, as a cold front slides into the region on Saturday and Sunday, removing the short lasting heat. Temperatures on Saturday are expected to cool back down into the mid to upper 80s with a few spots in the immediate NYC area reaching 90 degrees, with highs returning into the lower half of the 80s for Sunday. A dry weekend is expected, although Isaac's remnants will be over the Ohio Valley region, slowly moving east while weakening. There is still some uncertainty regarding exactly what happens with Isaac's remnants, although it's likely that at least some storms associated with Isaac drift into the region around early-mid next week. Stay tuned for more information on next week's outlook.