D.C. area forecast: Brisk start, mild finish, sun all around; a fine fall weekend is a cinch

Today: Sunny and dry. Highs 60-64. | Tonight: Clear and chilly. Lows 37-45. | Tomorrow: Plenty of sun. Highs 63-67. | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10


This is a fine autumn day if only it could have mastered a few more degrees it would have been head of the class! Get the Digit on Twitter| Discuss on Facebook

Believe it or not, we are headed into another beautiful stretch of weather that should last us all the way through the weekend. Some of the colder suburbs could actually see a touch of frost tomorrow night so consider bringing in the tender potted plants. Highs in the 60s and 70s are a fine trade off and rain is not a concern until Monday at the earliest making your pumpkin picking delightful.

Today (Thursday): Early risers may see a cloud bank on the eastern horizon but that is out to sea and sun is here to stay. Temperatures should handily make it to the low 60s and some spots could even hit mid-60s before the ever earlier sunset take its toll. Breezes from the west are a mere 5-10 mph. Confidence: High

Tonight: With quite dry air in place and little breeze, readings will quickly drop into the 50s in the evening. That is just the beginning as lows make it to the upper 30s in colder suburbs but mainly low-to-mid 40s in most areas. Confidence: High

For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend...

Tomorrow (Friday): Another fine day is on tap with plenty of sunshine. Breezes from the northwest get pretty gusty, but highs still manage the mid-60s across the region. That should keep outdoor activities pleasant for all and hopefully for one last Nats afternoon game. Confidence: High

Tomorrow night: Strong high pressure settles in and winds drop off quickly after sunset. Evening readings should still hang in the 50s but drop overnight to the mid-to-upper 30s in much of the area with frost likely in colder suburbs. Even downtown slips to near 40. Confidence: High

Saturday is just dandy after you shake off that early morning chill. Unfettered sunshine does its best to push highs into the mid-60s which should feel great for all those athletic activities you have planned...right? A light southerly breeze picks up in the afternoon and helps to keep the 60s around for most of the evening. The starry, starry night results in lows in the low-to-upper 40s. Confidence: High

Sunday would be even better and might actually be but my guess is a potent storm in the Midwest will throw a veil of high clouds across the sky. Even so, a strong breeze from the south should push highs to the upper 60s to lower 70s. No need for a suntan now anyway! The evening clouds increase and the blanket keeps our overnight lows in the mid-to-upper 50s. Confidence: Medium

Monday remains cloudy as a cold front pushes through thea area. Spotty/intermittent light showers may (40% chance) be around at times. Due to the warm start to the day, highs should still make the mid-to-upper 60s. Confidence: Low-Medium