Weather! More springlike temps ahead

Ready for some more springlike weather here in the heart of winter? Looking at 70 degrees by Wednesday afternoon, and the possibility of a little white stuff this weekend.

January 30, 2012; 11:24 AM • by Weather Dan

Tired of this winter yet? Missing snow?

Regrettably, I can’t promise any snow in the near future. However, The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang has a solution: make your own snow. All you need is a pressure washer, an air compressor, the right nozzle…and the right atmospheric conditions (cold and dry).

I can’t recommend making your own snow this week, though. Thanks to a ridge of high pressure settling over the southeast, we’re going to feel temperatures we’d usually see in late April. Are you ready for another ride on the winter weather rollercoaster?

Monday: It’s 44 at 11 am at RIC, and with absolutely clear skies we’re going to make it into the low 50s this afternoon. Lows tonight fall into the mis 30s under mostly clear skies. A light southwest breeze will stick around all day.

Tuesday: Sunny skies continue, as temperatures soar into the mid 60s, again with that light southwest breeze. Temperatures fall into the mid 40s Tuesday night, as a few clouds begin to appear.

Wednesday: Some clouds appear during the day Wednesday thanks to increased humidity from the southwesterly flow of the last few days. That said, temperatures are still going to soar, making a run at 70 degrees! Our record for the day is 79, set in 2002, and I don’t think we’re going to break that, but we’ll definitely have a toasty start to February. Temperatures fall to near 50 Wednesday night.

There’s some irony in the weather ahead, because our next cold front will swing through on Thursday, bringing some rain with it. The forecast for Punxatawney, Pennsylvania looks quite similar, meaning that the distinct possibility exists that despite this being “the winter without a winter” America’s beloved groundhog might see his shadow on February 2. Read into that what you will.

Behind the front this weekend we’re looking at a cold blast, meaning our 70 degree temperatures will be quite short-lived. Could there even be the chance of some snow? It’s not likely, but the possibility exists. Unfortunately it’s a very small one, but I can’t write it out totally just yet.

January 30, 2012 11:24 AM 0