Forecast: When Will Clouds Call it Kaput?
For some people, there's a certain charm to these cool, cloudy days so common in April. However, I'd wager most folks would rather see an end to the persistent breeze off the ocean responsible for socking us in. Slowly, this breeze will wane indeed, and as it does, clouds will thin, skies will brighten and temperatures will rise.
Mostly Cloudy. Low 60s. After an overcast morning with a chance of drizzle and temperatures rising from the mid 40s to low 50s, we may or may not see some breaks in the cloud cover this afternoon. Either way, a slowly thinning blanket of clouds should allow skies to brighten and afternoon highs to reach the low 60s as light winds blow from the southeast.
Tonight, partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of a light shower or sprinkle and lows in the low to mid 50s.
TOMORROW
Partly sunny. Near 70. Winds from the south, rather than from the east off the ocean, will present us with a better chance of at least a few periods of sunshine. With enough of that strong April sun, highs could reach near 70. Partly to mostly cloudy overnight with lows in the mid 50s, maybe only down to the upper 50s downtown.
Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend. Also, see NatCast and UnitedCast for the forecast for tonight's games.
A LOOK AHEAD
Partial sunshine combined with an increasing breeze from the south should boost Friday highs into the 70s. An approaching cold front could spawn showers (40% chance) late in the day or overnight. Confidence: Medium
If a cold front stays on its current track and timing, Saturday could be rather showery with highs near 70. We'll have to keep an eye on the potential for thunderstorms as well. Confidence: Medium
Sunday is shaping up to be breezy and cooler with highs in the mid 50s to near 60. Confidence: Medium-High
By Dan Stillman |
April 9, 2008; 5:00 AM ET
Forecasts
Previous: CommuteCast: Another Cool and Cloudy One |
Next: UnitedCast: Soccer Near Sixty
Posted by: Laura in NWDC | April 9, 2008 9:22 AM
Duct tape in the heavens.
Posted by: Jake in Reston | April 9, 2008 11:03 AM
Wow, it's true! Duct tape CAN do anything!
Posted by: Laura in NWDC | April 9, 2008 11:08 AM
CAD rule of thumb: the clouds stick as long as the east wind continues bringing in that marine air. Last Saturday we got a somewhat unexpected southwesterly flow.
The jet in our latitude is weak to nonexistent and north of us. We get a strong jet back by Friday.
Most lightning today is over the TX panhandle. There's also some in South Central areas.
Posted by: El Bombo | April 9, 2008 11:13 AM
I've got that the clouds come from the marine air, I'm just trying to figure out what keeps that high pressure stuck out there over the ocean for so long (assuming that's what keeps the marine air flowing in). El Bombo, do I hear you saying that a weak jet stream allows the system to stay put?
Posted by: Laura in NWDC | April 9, 2008 11:28 AM
I don't understand why today's forecast has only medium confidence and tomorrow's has medium/high confidence. Similarly, the rest of the week is medium but Sunday is medium/high. Wouldn't the closer predictions have more confidence?
Posted by: Vap | April 9, 2008 1:02 PM
Clearing skies here in Arnold, skies are quite blue now.
Posted by: arnoldkh | April 9, 2008 1:21 PM
Welcome back, sun!
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | April 9, 2008 1:28 PM
Vap -- Good questions, and glad to know someone is paying attention :) ... I labeled today as only medium because of a lot of uncertainty as to whether clouds would break up (which they are now in the process of doing). Had we stayed locked in, temperatures may have fallen short of the forecast. Whereas there was higher confidence that we'd get some periods of sun tomorrow. As for Sunday, that confidence is a notch above Friday and Saturday since we're not dealing with a front and the uncertain potential for precipitation.
So, yes, generally speaking confidence tends to drop the further out you get, but the type of weather expected has an effect, too.
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | April 9, 2008 1:37 PM
Post a Comment
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
OK...I'm getting a handle on this cold air damming thing. The thing I still don't understand is what made Saturday such an anomaly?
Oh yeah, the other thing is, what makes that high pressure get stuck out there over the ocean for so long?