April Gets Crueler: Major East-Coast Storm Developing

Now

Seasonably cold, windy. The same year as L. F. Richardson's pioneering, but ultimately unsuccessful, work in numerical weather prediction, T.S. Eliot labeled April as the "cruelest month", and today's weather models are continuing to point to a cruel rain and wind storm for the Mid Atlantic area by the second half of the weekend. The chart, issued this afternoon by HPC/NCEP/NWS, shows a widespread area of 2"+ rainfall along the East Coast for the 3 days ending Monday evening.

Meanwhile, brisk northwesterly winds gusting over 30 mph at times are limiting temperatures to the mid and upper 50s this afternoon in the Washington metro area, despite the mid-April sun through partly cloudy skies.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Some clouds, cold. Winds will diminish somewhat tonight as clouds increase toward morning. Lows will be from near 40 in town to the mid 30s in the 'burbs. Showers are likely by late tomorrow afternoon, increasing in intensity overnight. Highs will be in the low 50s to near 55°.

For the detailed storm chronology, scroll down to Camden's post below.

Climate Corner

Tomorrow's nationwide Day of Climate Action was featured today on the first hour of NPR's Science Friday. The second hour covered the revival of a play about a similar "debate" in the past between science and ignorance. Podcasts will be posted to the show's web site.

Mediarology

This Sunday at 8pm, The Weather Channel begins a 5-part countdown of the "100 Biggest Weather Moments", hosted by Harry Connick, Jr.