Forecast: Pleasant Weather Pays Short Visit
Best days to see the blossoms: Today and Sunday
In April, you gotta enjoy pleasant weather when you can, because odds are clouds and showers are close behind. So if you didn't get outside during yesterday afternoon's low to mid 70s, you might take a leisurely lunch or check out the cherry blossoms this afternoon, even if it is a bit cool and breezy. Come tomorrow, clouds and periodic chances of rain are in the forecast through Saturday, though Sunday should be much improved.
Partly to mostly sunny. Breezy. Mid 50s to near 60. A cold front that passed through overnight has dropped temperatures from yesterday's highs in the mid 70s to this morning's lows in the 40s. Partly to mostly sunny skies will help today's highs reach the mid 50s to near 60. But a 10-20 mph breeze from the northwest, with gusts of 20-30 mph in the morning, will make it feel cooler than that.
Tonight, partly cloudy with light winds and lows ranging from near 30 in the burbs to the mid to upper 30s downtown.
TOMORROW
Increasing clouds. Chance of p.m. showers. Low 50s. Rain likely overnight. Skies may start out partly sunny as highs head for the low 50s. But clouds are likely to increase during the day with some showers possible by late afternoon or evening. Then, cloudy with a good chance of steadier rainfall overnight and lows in the mid to upper 40s.
Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend. Later this morning, we'll recap and grade our winter outlook.
FRIDAY
Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of showers. 60s. The main question for Friday is whether rain will continue through the morning, or if the main area of precipitation will instead slide north of the area. The latter is looking more likely, leaving us with just a chance of some showers as a decent breeze from the south warms highs into the 60s.
Overnight, a line of showers and possibly thunderstorms could develop as a cold front approaches. Lows in the 50s.
A LOOK AHEAD
Showers may linger into the morning on Saturday, with the sun trying to break through the clouds later in the day. It's likely to be breezy with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
Confidence is fairly high that high pressure will bring the area a mostly sunny Sunday with highs in the 60s.
By Dan Stillman |
April 2, 2008; 5:00 AM ET
Forecasts
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Posted by: Jake in Reston | April 2, 2008 10:21 AM
CWG readers ... please help Jake out by reporting back if you head over to the blossoms in the next couple days. Jake, my hunch is that they are still going strong (despite last night's and this morning's wind), and will be on Sunday unless a nasty thunderstorm blows through the Tidal Basin Friday night.
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | April 2, 2008 10:54 AM
Cherry blossoms erratic around Ballston due to alternating mild & cold spells. Some trees at peak; others yet to reach peak.
Jet Stream 12ZNAM per CRWS. We seem to be back underneath the jet; will stay that way through the weekend, hence the continual rain threat from Thursday on. Hope the rain moves north Friday so there's less chance at dance time 8 PM. Saturday rain lingering could be a bummer!
Canadian lightning update: Isolated strikes in two areas (1) off the Atlantic Coast (2) over AR and SE OK.
DanceCast: Friday night, rainy, see above. (Still violating the Law of Averages!)
Posted by: El Bombo | April 2, 2008 11:11 AM
I will be going to the Tidal Basin today after work till around sunset. I think Kevin was down there this AM or will be this evening as well, so there should be some new reporting on conditions! Three trees across the street look good -- saw a few blossoms in the road this morning though from winds.
Posted by: Ian, Capital Weather Gang | April 2, 2008 11:31 AM
Having seen the blossoms myself yesterday, it appears it's at peak bloom right now and the views were absolutely spectacular. Some petals were knocked off the trees two nights ago due to heavy showers and gusty winds. Rain and breezy conditions tonight and tomorrow doesn't boad well for the blossoms, we might see alot more petals on the tidal basin than on the trees by the tail end of the weekend if indeed we see the heavier rains and breezer conditions tonight through early Saturday.
It's a beautiful sight right now though. Enjoy it while you can.
Posted by: Jim Schuyler | April 3, 2008 09:49 AM
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I've been out of town until today and been wanting to see the blossoms for some good pictures. Will Sunday be too late? I mean, there's been some serious wind today / last night.