Dec 8, 2012: Warmth, Rain Early This Week

Forecast Highlights:

A cold front is currently moving through the area, although rain will redevelop again on Sunday as a warm front moves through the region, with warmth returning briefly for Monday before another cold front overnight. Temperatures will warm up again throughout the rest of the week with dry conditions ahead of another rain event likely late next weekend or early the following week.

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Tonight - Tuesday: Rain Continues

A weak low pressure approaching the Great Lakes will keep above average temperatures in the area with clouds and showers persisting through Tuesday. Showers will remain spotty until Sunday afternoon, with steadier light to moderate rain expected for the evening into the overnight hours. Temperatures will be in the 40s during the day on Sunday, in the lower end of the 40s north/west of NYC and in the mid to upper 40s east and south of NYC, with temperatures steadily rising during the overnight hours.

Most of the rain will stay north and west of the area on Monday with scattered showers and a breezy south wind expected. Temperatures will be much warmer than average, reaching the mid to upper 50s for most of the area with low 60s expected in the immediate NYC area, especially from NE NJ and further southwest, where temperatures may locally approach 65 degrees. Showers are expected in the evening and early overnight hours again as the cold front moves through the area, with temperatures dropping into the 30s inland and low to mid 40s for the rest of the area.


Wednesday - Saturday: Slowly Warming Up

Behind the cold front, a cooler air mass will briefly return, with highs back into the 40s for Wednesday. The cold front will temporarily stall offshore until Thursday, with both days seeing mostly sunny skies. By Friday, the high pressure will shift to the southeast of the area with a SW flow returning as ridging rebuilds in the southeast US. As a result, temperatures will warm into the mid to upper 40s inland and the upper 40s to low 50s for the rest of the area. This will easily take the area through the middle of December with temperatures solidly warmer than average.


Longer Range: Somewhat Cooler; Snow Uncertain

Another low pressure is expected to track west and north of the region late next weekend into the early following week with weak ridging in the southeastern US while the trough axis remains west, with rain likely again for the area. The longer range will be discussed in more detail with tomorrow's pattern outlook, although the potential is there for snow before the end of the month, unlike last year when December ended up snowless. Stay tuned for more information.