TODAY’S DAILY DIGIT
A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10.
As we head toward the final month of meteorological springtime, we continue to grapple with a variable weather pattern. While many of us want those warmer spring days, we also need rain to get us back on schedule. We’re trying to knock both of those out of the park this week. Highs surge into the 80s today before a cool front drops in and lingers to our south through the end of the week, helping to generate occasional rain chances, keeping us cloudy, and also on the cooler side of the equation. The big question is whether it will clear for the weekend — we could potentially salvage at least part of it!
Today (Tuesday): Partly to mostly sunny skies greet us this morning with temperatures starting much warmer than yesterday, but we’ll have a touch more humidity in the air, too (actually a good thing for allergy sufferers like me!). Temperatures ascend to the very warm mid- to upper 80s by the afternoon, and skies gradually become mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon — some of them could be strong to severe. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk of severe weather in the D.C. region. Strong winds and hail are possible in storms. Confidence: Medium
Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy and turning cooler overnight, but we track more showers and maybe a thunderstorm rolling through the area again. Lows range from the low to middle 50s. Winds from the west and then north at 10-15 mph with some higher gusts possible. Rain totals again on the lighter side of a tenth of an inch or less, but some locally heavier amounts possible. Confidence: Medium
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Tomorrow (Wednesday): Cloudy and cool weather prevail for our midweek marker with highs only in the 60s (cooler than normal for late April). The stalled frontal boundary to our south could trigger a few scatter showers in the southern suburbs. Winds from the northeast at 5 to 10 mph. Confidence: Medium
Tomorrow night: The frontal system to our south makes an effort to come north into our area, keeping our skies cloudy and increasing chances for showers late at night. Lows range from the upper 40s to lower 50s. Confidence: Medium
A LOOK AHEAD
That pesky stalled front is back on Thursday and it could deliver our best chance for more substantial rain this week. Showers and storms are more likely as highs only manage the lower to middle 60s. Chances of showers continue Thursday night under cloudy skies. Lows reach the low to middle 50s. Confidence: Low-Medium
Friday is a tougher forecast day as some models have flirted with the 70s, while others hold us back into the 60s. The latest trends favor middle to upper 60s. Showers are also still possible under partly cloudy skies. Friday night still runs the risk of a shower or two with lows in the low to middle 50s under partly cloudy conditions. Confidence: Low
The weekend is not yet clear cut on details unfortunately, but Saturday has a reasonable shot right now at partly sunny conditions and highs near 70. Clouds should attempt a comeback Saturday night with lows in the 50s before another low pressure system approaches us on Sunday. Timing the arrival of rains on Sunday (which is May 1 already!) is a bit tricky, but the afternoon and especially evening are the best bets as highs stall out in the cool 60s again. Confidence: Low
