Weather! A respite from weather chaos

We’re done with the hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding, and clear and mostly calm weather greets us to start the week. But there’s a chill in the air, and it’s going to translate into a big temperature shift by next weekend.

September 12, 2011; 9:57 AM • by Weather Dan

Finally, we’re getting a break from some of the weather insanity we’ve had over the last couple weeks.

Tropical Storm Maria is currently sliding north of the northern Caribbean islands, and will make a turn to the north before it reaches the Bahamas. The only worry right now is for some more heavy surf along the Atlantic coast over the next few days before Maria eyes a possible landfall in maritime Canada.

The visible satellite is showing more of what we saw this weekend across the region – partly cloudy skies and plenty of sun. The start of this week will be no different. High temperatures Monday will climb into the upper 80s as an upper-air disturbance slides across the area today. There’s a chance of a thunderstorm or two this afternoon as the disturbance crosses, but conditions should remain mostly dry. Temperatures drop into the mid 60s overnight as conditions begin to dry out.

Tuesday looks to be an almost carbon-copy of Monday, as we enjoy a generally dry day under mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will again climb into the mid 80s, with lows in the mid 60s.

In fact, we’ll see yet another repeat on Wednesday, with one last day of highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 60s. But that’s when we start to see change, also. An approaching potent cold front brings with it some thunderstorm chances Wednesday afternoon. Behind this cold front lies an arctic air mass, the first one of the season. It will be responsible for 20-30 degree temperature drops across the northern Plains and Great Lakes states, and will bring us temperatures in the 60s by next weekend. That’s right, your low temperature now will be your high temperature by Saturday. It’s going to be an excellent taste of fall, if you’re into that sort of thing.

I, for one, am not.

September 12, 2011 9:57 AM 0