Forecast: Cloudy but mild, light showers likely late; seasonably cool weekend ahead

Today's Daily Digit

 

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

 

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I am really torn since clouds and even light showers are not the greatest but the mild temperatures made me go high.
 
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Today: Cloudy, chance of afternoon showers. 56-60. | Tonight: Cloudy, lingering light showers. 44-48. | Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. 51-55. | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

The weather pattern is still pretty wimpy for winter but it does make it easier to get all those holiday errands done. Despite clouds and a few showers temperatures run well above normal today. More seasonable cold returns for the weekend and a little disturbance to our south is almost close enough to give us the chance of a snowflake Friday night but I would not stay up for it.

Snow Potential Index: 1 (→) - Snow, I seem to remember what it looks like. I think the most we might expect is a flake or two Friday night.

 

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Today (Thursday): The morning commute is a breeze with little chance of a shower and readings in the 40s. That breeze is a good one out of the south at 10-15 mph pushing highs into the mid-to-upper 50s. That should feel nice until the showers arrive (60% chance) as the afternoon wears on. Only light amounts can be expected but, as is Washington’s way, it could still mess up the evening commute. Confidence: Medium-High

Tonight: Keep the umbrella with you as a few sprinkles are still possible until midnight. Temperatures are no problem as they hang in the lower 50s for the evening and only bottom out in the mid-40s (low 40s colder suburbs). Confidence: Medium-High

For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast into early next week...

Tomorrow (Friday): Despite a decent cold front passage, the skies are still likely to be mostly cloudy and the temperatures not all that cool. Winds from the north at 10-15 mph are the only clue about the front. Highs hold up in the low-to-mid 50s. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow night: A weak low is set to pass to the south of us. Clouds are a sure bet but precipitation is more tricky with only a 30% chance of light showers (chances a little higher south of the beltway). If, big if, the system comes just a little farther north it could coincide with the coldest air arriving and produce a few flakes of snow or a ping or two of sleet after midnight, mainly in colder suburbs. Lows end up in the low-to-mid 30s. Confidence: Medium

Saturday is a seasonable day with gradually clearing skies and highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Another disturbance zips by to the north of us in the evening. While snow chances are nil it could provide just enough cloud cover to keep temperatures from tanking. Look for lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Confidence: High

Sunday skies go back to blue but the cold air overhead keeps temperatures only crawling up. Of course, part of that credit goes to the low sun angle as well. Highs reach the mid-to-upper 40s. Overnight lows range from the upper 20s to lower 30s. Confidence: Medium-High

Monday starts the next warm up, under sunny skies and with a southerly breeze. Hard to believe that on this same date two years ago were were in the midst of our first of three major snowstorms. Highs can be expected to reach the upper 40s to lower 50s. Confidence: Medium-High