WEATHER: Big Chill On The Way

Cold, arctic temperatures – some of the coldest of the season – are on the way for Friday night and the first part of your weekend, before a quick shot of snow changing to rain for MLK Day. The low pressure talked about all week has finally come into view a little better, and the news is good (unless you’re a snow lover).  

First though, the cold air coming into Friday night and into Saturday is all thanks to another low-pressure system off the New Jersey coast, whose counterclockwise flow is helping to bring cold air from the north into the area. Saturday morning lows will be in the teens, with wind chills in the single digits, even with abundant sunshine. Winds slowly migrate from the north to the east Saturday into Sunday, and we will see sunshine for a majority the day too, with clouds increasing in the afternoon.

Obviously, we’ve been tracking a potential nor’easter for much of the week, with broadcasters and Facebook forecasters providing dire predictions and a variety of models, from the American to the Euro, that makes it seem like Washington may cross the jet stream at some point. Thankfully, all of these models tend to find an agreement on forecast track and snow totals about 48 hours or so before an event.

Starting Sunday evening, snow will begin to encompass the area and drop a quick inch or so before changing to rain, however there could be a period of sleet before changing to all rain. Travel on Sunday evening or night, after the Eagles beat Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, could be tricky, as the ground and road could be cold enough to sustain the wintery precipitation if they aren’t pre-treated. Temperatures will rise over night Sunday into Monday, assisting that changeover to rain. Winds will also pick back up as that low pressure moves just to the west of the region.

After the rain tapers off later on Monday, temperatures will float below and above the average high and low, with no significant precipitation beyond the next few days.

FORECAST:

Friday Night – Mostly clear and turning frigid. Lows in the mid- to lower teens. Winds from the north at 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Wind chill values around 0.

Saturday – Mostly sunny and remaining blustery. Highs in the mid- to lower 20s. Winds from the north at 5-10 mph with gusts to 20 mph. Wind chill values in the single digits.

Saturday Night – Some clouds but with calmer winds. Lows in the lower teens. Winds from the northeast at 5-10 mph.

Sunday – Increasing clouds with snow starting after 4pm.  Afternoon temperatures in the upper 20s. Winds from the east at 5-10 mph, increasing late.

Sunday Night – Snow showers then changing to rain late. Some sleet is also possible. Overnight temperatures rise into the mid- to upper 30s. One to two inches of snow is possible before changing to rain. Winds from the east-northeast at 10-20 mph, with gusts to 25 mph.

Monday (MLK Day) – Rain, tapering off in the afternoon/evening, then mostly cloudy. High temperatures early in the lower 40s but falling throughout the day. Winds from the south-southeast at 5-15 mph.

AVERAGE HIGH – 39

AVERAGE LOW – 23

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