Weather: Warm Welcome

After the recent bitterly cold weather, some welcome relief is in store, if only briefly: We are in for the usual squeeze play of a developing cyclone running westward toward a high pressure centered just off shore. This means strong pressure gradients and therefore high winds. This particular system has a long southwesterly fetch to it, bringing up warm air out of the gulf. We may even touch 50°F (10°C) as temperatures rapidly climb after the warm front passes through mid-morning. A mid-level atmospheric wave will produce some overnight rain that will die off early Thursday morning. Thursday itself will turn a little cooler, and by Friday we will be back to the more seasonable mid 30s (2°C) as the winds shift round to northerly behind the departing storm.

In the outlook, Saturday night may see a coastal development, bringing more precipitation across the region. However, rain is still more likely than snow, which will lend no comfort to frustrated skiers.

Today: Starting off clear. Strong and warm southwesterly winds. High clouds developing during afternoon. High 49°F (9°C).

Tonight: Moderate rain spreading in from the west around midnight. Totals of around a quarter of an inch. Continued warm. Low 40°F (4°C).

Tomorrow: Any lingering drizzle dying out during the morning. Becoming sunny. A little cooler during the day. High 42°F (6°C). A comparatively chilly night with a low of 26°F (-3°C).

Friday: Cooler, but fair. High around 35°F (2°C). Low about 25°F (-3°C).