Rainy into evening; Patchy drizzle on Tuesday

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As Jason Samenow mentioned this morning, we're back into a damp and dreary stretch, and it looks like it lasts most of the week. Cloudy skies of this morning eventually brought light rain to much of the area, which will continue at times into the evening. Highs near 50 occurred late morning most spots before rain knocked pretty much everyone back into the upper 40s. A wind from the north and east has added to the rawness by lowering wind chills near 40 at times.

Radar: Latest regional radar shows movement of precipitation over past three hours. Powered by HAMweather. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall.

Through Tonight: The worst of the rain should wind down this evening, but scattered showers or drizzle are possible through the night. Additional rainfall should generally be light as low pressure lifts northeast and away from the area. Temperatures slowly drop to the mid-40s, maybe some low 40s.

Tomorrow (Tuesday): There could be a few showers still around in the morning. Otherwise, we're cloudy with some drizzle possible throughout the day. Highs should make the low, perhaps middle, 50s. Winds will be light from the north.

See Jason Samenow's full forecast through the beginning of next week. And if you haven't already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Snow politics: Arizona Senator John McCain is threatening to block confirmation of USDA nominees if the U.S. Forest Service refuses to allow Arizona Snowbowl's request to use snowmaking equipment fed by treated wastewater. The Forest Service says the plan is moving forward, albeit slowly. According to Forest Service parent, the Department of Agriculture, slowness is due to attempts to forge a compromise because several Native American tribes have voiced discontent because some consider the mountain sacred.

* Damp Thanksgiving week: Full Forecast | Cruising the Atlantic *

A scandal erupted in the world of climate science late last week after anonymous hackers posted years worth of selected private email correspondence between a handful of prominent climate scientists. The emails were stolen from a server at the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit in Britain.

Climate skeptics -- those who either doubt the mainstream consensus that Earth has warmed during the past century or who doubt human influence is the primary cause of any warming -- have seized upon the contents of the emails as evidence that mainstream climate scientists have been involved in a conspiracy to block those with alternative views from publishing papers in academic journals, in addition to other allegations.

Although the personal emails do not provide any scientific evidence that would counter the scientific consensus that human emissions are altering the climate system, they are likely to be politically damaging, because they raise the appearance of impropriety in the scientific process.

In one of the messages, Phil Jones, who heads up Britain's government-run Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, alluded to a "trick" that a colleague performed to analyze historical temperature data. You can read up on the specifics of the scandal, and why that particular email may not be as shady as it sounds, here, here and here.

In order to shed some light on what this scandal may mean for the scientific community and for public perceptions of science, I have contacted several highly respected experts to seek their insight. Keep reading for my first interview (ironically, conducted via email), with Spencer Weart, a science historian with the American Institute of Physics.

Sunshine possibly returns next weekend

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Periods of light rain/drizzle. 47-51. | Tonight: Chance of light rain/drizzle. 44-47. | Tomorrow: A.M. drizzle, then mostly cloudy. 50-54. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

FORECAST IN DETAIL

We seem to be alternating between generally sunny and dry stretches and cloudy and damp stretches. The weekend brought an end to a sunny one so now we begin another which will be cloudy. Regrettably, this cloudy, cool, and damp stretch may extend right on through Thanksgiving. Early indications, however, are that a sunny period may come back for next weekend.

Radar: Latest regional radar shows movement of precipitation over past three hours. Powered by HAMweather. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall.

Today (Monday): Weak low pressure to the south and moist flow from the northeast (winds at around 10 mph) will combine to give us periods of light rain and drizzle today. Temps will be chilly, mainly holding in the upper 40s in most spots with perhaps a 50 degree reading or two around. Rainfall totals shouldn't be more than a couple tenths of an inch. Confidence: Medium-High

Tonight: There's a 40% chance of light rain, but probably mostly drizzle will linger once the low pressure system passes to our north. Winds will be from the north around 5-10 mph. Confidence: Medium-High

Keep reading for the forecast through the work week...

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Partly to mostly sunny. 57-60. | Tonight: Cloudy, chance of light rain late. 40-44. | Tomorrow: Cloudy, chance of rain. 48-52. | A Look Ahead

FORECAST IN DETAIL

We may be able to salvage one more pleasant day before a combo of systems tries to put a damper on our shortened work week. Skies will be partly to mostly sunny and pleasant overall -- similar to yesterday. After another shot of rain on Monday, uncertainty builds in the forecast details through Thanksgiving. One thing is more certain though, and that's that the whole of it will incorporate the chance of light showers and a good amount of gray.

Clouds: Latest mid-Atlantic infrared satellite loop, courtesy Unisys. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. See more maps on our Weather Wall

Today (Sunday): We'll be caught between retreating high pressure to our northeast and developing low pressure to our southwest. While it had looked like today might be quite cloudy with a late chance for the wet stuff, it turns out the high will be strengthening as it moves away. As a result, partly to mostly sunny skies should last into afternoon. Toward evening, more clouds may begin to filter in from the southwest. We'll continue to be mild, with highs in the upper 50s and winds from the north around 5 mph.Confidence: Medium-High

Tonight: Clouds continue to increase overnight, and some of us (especially south) may see some patchy late rain by daybreak. Temperatures will be a bit warmer with the clouds, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Winds will be from the northeast at 5-10 mph.Confidence: Medium

Keep reading to see your holiday forecast...

Clouds slowly settle in Sunday

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Partly to mostly sunny. 59-63. | Tonight: Mostly clear. 38-45. | Tomorrow: Increasing clouds. 53-57. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

FORECAST IN DETAIL

We're looking at a pretty nice late fall weekend. Sunshine will radiate through the skies today, and though clouds increase tomorrow, odds are increasing it will remain dry. The ugly, damp weather may wait to arrive until Sunday night and Monday.

Today (Saturday): No doubt the day will start off chilly, with 30s in many suburbs. But sunshine, filtered at times by clouds, will go to work, lifting temperatures through the 40s in the morning. Afternoon temperatures will reach the upper 50s and even the low 60s in a few spots. Winds will generally be light. Confidence: High

Tonight: Skies will be partly cloudy for most of the night. Lows will range from the upper 30s in the cooler suburbs to the mid-40s downtown. Confidence: Medium-High

Keep reading for the forecast for tomorrow and into early next week. And if you haven't already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Work week ends calm with near-average temperatures

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Other than a sometimes gusty wind from the northwest, today has been quite pleasant, especially following the storminess of last night. Mostly sunny skies throughout the day have helped temperatures rise a bit above normal for late November, as highs neared 60 most spots. This evening promises worry free weather. Just bring a jacket along, as we'll cool off nicely once the sun sets.

Through Tonight: Evening temperatures quickly fall through 50s and into the 40s while winds of today subside a little. Mostly clear skies and fairly calm winds overnight will conspire to produce chilly -- but pretty typical -- overnight temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to the lower 40s.

Tomorrow (Saturday): The weekend starts off right with a mostly sunny day replete with light winds. Chilly morning temperatures rise to highs mostly in the upper 50s. Some increase in cloudiness may be noted by evening.

See Camden Walker's full forecast through the beginning of next week. And if you haven't already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Climate scientists hacked: Hundreds of private documents and e-mails were recently hacked from a server operated by the UK's University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit and leaked online. The usual climate change skeptics have been quick to cherry-pick some of the correspondence arguing that it contains evidence of data manipulation. Thus far, it appears there is not much to that line of thinking.

* Sunny days return: Full Forecast | Under pressure by air pressure? *

Looking out at a shower over the open Atlantic. By Steve Tracton.

I recently returned from a 16-day cruise which included seven days at sea crossing the Atlantic from Lisbon, Portugal to Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Two of the highlights of my first ocean cruise were experiencing the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean and how otherwise dull weather for a weather geek like me can be quite noteworthy.

To cruise across the Atlantic is a totally different and indescribably exhilarating experience. Beyond the physical confines and many amenities (another story) of ship-board life there is nothing but sea, wind, waves, and dolphin sightings day after day.

Nowhere else have I been able to see the true horizon, the merging of sky and sea (assuming clear skies) in every direction with no visual obstructions from trees, buildings, hills, etc. Moreover, without the ever present light pollution surrounding urban areas, never was I so profoundly aware of the gradual, but dramatic transition from civil twilight following sunset to astronomical twilight (entire sky becoming fully dark). The comparable effect in reverse occurs with sunrise, but suffice to say, I slept through all opportunities for that experience.

Weekend gets off to fine start, could finish wet

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Becoming mostly sunny. Near 60. | Tonight: Mostly clear. Upper 30s to low 40s. | Tomorrow: Partly to mostly sunny. Upper 50s to near 60. | Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of p.m. rain. Mid-50s. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

FORECAST IN DETAIL

Yesterday's showers and thundershowers are history. Now we have a couple of nice days ahead of us, with sunshine both today and Saturday. Our next storm system approaches on Sunday but may not bring rain chances until the afternoon or Sunday night, probably lasting into Monday. High temperatures, all the while, will stay in a pretty narrow range -- in the mid-50s to low 60s.

Today (Friday): Our dreary weather clears out. Any lingering early-morning clouds should quickly give way to mostly sunny skies. Highs top out around 60, though chilled a bit by a 10-15 mph breeze from the northwest. Overall, a great end to our work week! Confidence: High

Tonight: Mostly clear and cooler than recent nights. Evening temperatures drop through the 50s and into the upper 40s. Overnight lows in the low 40s downtown, upper 30s to near 40 in the suburbs. Confidence: High

Can we keep the clear skies around? Keep reading for the forecast into early next week...

Sunshine returns on Friday, lasts through Saturday

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Showers -- with some rumbles of thunder and brief heavy rain -- are affecting the area this afternoon. Northern and eastern sections are now in on the action after precipitation mainly hit the western suburbs through early afternoon. Additional activity along a cold front, still approaching from the west, will threaten through evening. Highs topped out in the upper 50s and low 60s -- some locations have cooled back a bit with the rain.

Radar: Latest D.C. area radar loop shows movement of precipitation over past two hours. Powered by HAMweather. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall.

Through Tonight: We stick with a risk of showers -- a few heavy with rumbles of thunder -- through the evening and there could still be a few sprinkles after midnight. Clouds should be breaking by sunrise if not before. Watch for some areas of fog overnight. Lows range from the mid-40s to near 50.

Tomorrow (Friday): Looks like we'll end the week on a nice note Friday as sunshine returns. There could be some remnant morning cloudiness, otherwise it's mostly sunny with a northwest breeze around 10 mph. Temperatures again rise to highs right around 60.

See Josh Larson's full forecast through early next week. And if you haven't already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Eggo shortage: Kellog Co. blamed a nationwide shortage of frozen waffles on the historic flooding that hit Atlanta in late September. Though the plant was initially closed to sanitize after inspectors found Listeria in the facility, heavy rains delayed the process further. Interestingly enough, Kellog left out the Listeria part from it's official FAQ posted to their Web site, saying flooding was the reason for the shortage. Easier to blame nature than admit fault?

Wx in the City

* Rain at times today: Full Forecast *

There is no doubt that weather affects our health and well-being -- think hypothermia, sunburn and that good old "nice day" feeling from a clear, warm spring day. There is an entire field called biometeorology that is dedicated to studying the interactions between the atmosphere and living things. But, do minor changes in air pressure, which we experience on a weekly basis in the form of high and low pressure systems, affect our health?

It's plausible.

Keep reading for more on the effects of air pressure on how you feel. But first, take this poll...