Thursday, January 15, 2009

Inauguration Weather Forecast Update: Numb or Number?

Following on the heels of a very light dusting of snow around dawn this morning (all 3 major airports reported a trace), northwesterly winds gusting as high as 38 mph are bringing an Arctic chill to the Nation's Capital area. Temperatures which have remained in the 20s all day are expected to drop to the mid teens tonight.

Below-average temperatures will persist through the weekend and into Inauguration Week, but the coldest readings are likely Friday into early Saturday, with a high in the low 20s and a low Friday night in the upper single digits.

The outlook for Inauguration Day is for somewhat less numbing conditions, but with a high near or a little above freezing, spectators will definitely feel a chill:

High: 31-36°
Low: 18-23°
Chance of precipitation: 20%


Other forecasts:
National Weather Service
Partly sunny, with a high near 34.
The Weather Channel
More clouds than sun. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper 20s.
AccuWeather
High: 32 °F, Mostly cloudy and cold

Click here for previous Inauguration Weather posts.

Images, top to bottom (click to enlarge):
CapitalClimate chart of January 2009 observed and forecast daily temperatures from NWS data, background image © Kevin Ambrose;
GFS model output map for sea level pressure, 1000-500 mb thickness, and precipitation, 7 am, January 20, 2009, from NCEP/NWS/NOAA

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Seasonal Outlook

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