Clearly Cold; Center Contenders Considered

Now

Sunny, cold. After early afternoon highs slightly over 40°, temperatures have dropped back to the 30s late this afternoon in the Washington metro area. Skies are mainly clear after some earlier clouds and a few very isolated snow flurries. Cold and dry conditions will continue through tomorrow.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Mostly clear, cold. Lows tonight will be similar to last night's under mainly clear skies, upper 20s downtown to low 20s in the 'burbs, some upper teens possible in the outlying areas. Skies will be mostly sunny tomorrow with more seasonable temperatures, highs near 49°.

For the outlook through the rest of the week into the weekend, scroll down to Jason's post below.

Tropical Topics

NOAA will be announcing the replacement for outgoing National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield at the National Press Club tomorrow afternoon. The logical choice would be deputy director Ed Rappaport, but he is reported by the Miami Herald to have declined to apply. According to the same article, Bill Proenza, current director of the NWS Southern Region, is the leading contender. Other candidates, however, are Steve Letro, meteorologist in charge of the Jacksonville office, Bill Reed, in charge of the Houston office, and Richard Knabb, a forecaster at the Hurricane Center.

Miami's WPLG, Channel 10, among the child run over by grandma, shots fired near middle school, and $35K worth of iPods missing from Best Buy stories, is more definite about the choice. Bob King's Eye on the Storm blog in the Palm Beach Post, on the other hand, is unsure. Retiring director Mayfield was recently profiled in the Tampa Tribune.

Max Mayfield photo from Tampa Tribune.