Weather! Toasty Thursday, cooler but mild weekend ahead

Despite only spending Thursday in the 70s, a cooler but still very mild weekend lies in store following some rain on Friday.

March 8, 2012; 11:45 AM • by Weather Dan

No doubt you’ve already been able to at least see the sunny skies outside today. It’s been windy this morning thanks to a large pressure gradient – the difference in air pressure – between a strong area of high pressure located just off the Atlantic coast and a deepening area of low pressure over the Great Lakes. We’ve already seen some wind gusts near 30 mph, and will likely see more as the day progresses.

Southwesterly flow ahead of a cold front moving into the western Appalachians this morning is making for some breezy conditions across Virginia. We’re also reaping the benefit, as temperatures are already well into the 60s across most of the state, and have already hit 70 at RIC. Look for a high in the mid 70s around the city this afternoon under partly cloudy skies.

Cloudcover begins to increase tonight as the front approaches. Temperatures only fall into the mid 50s overnight as skies become overcast after midnight, with precipitation beginning in the form of a showers with maybe a rumble of thunder or two. However, instability will generally be pretty limited. The line of showers will move through during the morning, clearing the eastern part of the metro area by noon.

Temperatures make it back to near 60 on Friday. Skies clear out along with the showers, and we’ll see continued windy conditions, with some gusts near 20 miles per hour. Rapid cooling begins behind the front as well, as temperatures drop sharply to near 30 by Friday night.

High pressure returns behind the front, keeping the weekend mild and sunny. Expect highs in the low 50s on Saturday and in the upper 50s on Sunday, with lows in the upper 30s and low 40s.

Our next chances for rain don’t show up until late next week. Looks like a good opportunity to spend some extended time outside.

March 8, 2012 11:45 AM 0