Marching Back to Spring

Now

Mostly sunny, warm. The passage of a cool front overnight has shifted winds to the northeast and increased the clouds, but temperatures this afternoon are again above seasonal averages, generally reaching the low 70s in the Washington metro area. This morning's low of 62°, if it were to hold through midnight (not likely), would exceed the record highest minimum for this date by 2°.

Scattered showers on radar are generally west of I-81 late this afternoon, but some of them may make it to the region, especially the southern portions. Cooler temperatures will follow for the next couple of days.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Chance of showers, turning cooler. After a slight chance of showers mainly to the south through this evening, clouds will decrease overnight with lows in the upper 40s downtown to the low 40s in 'burbalonia. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 60s.

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

Political Climate

The House Committee on Science and Technology followed up last week's hearing, "Perspectives on Climate Change", with a hearing this afternoon on "Shaping the Message, Distorting the Science: Media Strategies to Influence Public Policy". The hearing was intended to question "industry efforts and attempts within science agencies to control which federal scientists get access to the media and how media campaigns are mounted to confuse the public."

In conjunction with the hearing, the non-partisan, non-profit, Government Accountability Project has issued a report analyzing climate science politicization. The report focuses on NOAA, but it also includes NASA, EPA, USGS, and other agencies.