D.C. area forecast: Colder pattern settles in; next storm on the horizon?

Today: Sunny. Upper 40s to near 50. | Tonight: Mostly clear. Upper 20s to mid-30s. | Tomorrow: Partly to mostly sunny. Low 50s. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

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


Temps may barely touch or fall short of 50. But a ton of sun makes it a tolerable chill. Get the Digit on Twitter | Discuss on Facebook

Our winter outlook is out, and you still have a chance to predict how much snow we’ll get between now and mid-April. In the short term, however, we find ourselves in a lull between weather-makers. Yesterday morning’s cold front is long gone, and the next chance of precipitation doesn’t come until Sunday. Today’s the coldest day of the next few. But with plenty of sun it’s not all that bad, especially when you consider we’re heading toward the final weekend before Thanksgiving.

Today (Wednesday): Once you accept that we’re now in a colder pattern, today’s not a bad day at all. Sunny skies get temperatures going in the right direction after a chilly early-morning start in the upper 20s to mid-30s. Afternoon highs finish in the upper 40s to near 50 with light winds from the north around 10 mph. Confidence: High

Tonight: Just a quiet mid-November night with mostly clear skies, light winds and lows in the upper 20s to mid-30s (suburbs to city). Confidence: High

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

Tomorrow (Thursday): No big changes tomorrow, though maybe a few degrees warmer in spots. Highs should reach the low 50s under partly to mostly sunny skies as winds remain light. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow night: The slightly warmer daytime highs translate to a slightly warmer night as well. Look for partly cloudy skies and lows from near 30 in the coolest suburbs to the upper 30s downtown. Confidence: Medium-High

A sprawling area of high pressure keeps the weather uneventful and mostly pleasant Friday and Saturday. Skies should be at least partly sunny both days with highs in the 50s, and Friday and Saturday night lows in the 30s to near 40. Confidence: Medium

Forecast confidence plummets for Sunday given the possible formation of a storm system centered off the mid-Atlantic coast. That means a chance of rain, but it’s just a chance at this point. Skies are probably mostly cloudy with highs in the 50s. Confidence: Low