Now
Sunny, warm, low humidity. Although the equinox is frequently a time of turmoil in the atmosphere, this autumnal one is passing very calmly (perhaps boringly) in the Mid Atlantic region following yesterday morning's beginning of astronomical fall. See Today in Weather History to the right for a much different scenario.Today's noon sun angle of 50.4° was well below the peak of 74.5° in June, but the crystal clear skies and the subsiding air from a strong ridge of high pressure have helped push regional temperatures into the 80s by mid afternoon. A southerly breeze was keeping Quantico the lone exception at 78°. Dewpoints have crept up slightly, but are still very comfortable in the upper 40s and low 50s.
CapitalWeather.com chart based on Eq. 2.9 in Stull, "Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers", photo © Kevin Ambrose
Tonight and Tomorrow
Clear, mild to very warm. Lows tonight under clear skies and calm winds will range from 59-62° in urban areas to the low and mid 50s in the cooler 'burbs. Tomorrow will again be sunny and very warm with highs 86-90° and a little more humidity.For the outlook through the rest of the week and into the weekend, scroll on down to Jason's post below.
Tropical Topics
Jerry, the 10th named storm of the season, developed from a subtropical system in the middle of the Atlantic over the weekend and reached tropical storm strength before being downgraded to a depression today. It was never any threat to land, and it is expected to be absorbed quickly by a strong non-tropical system.The National Hurricane Center is also watching several other areas for possible development:
- a tropical wave approaching the Lesser Antilles
- a large low pressure area in the eastern Atlantic
- an area of strong showers and thunderstorms in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico
Job Listing
Polish up your resume. Bob King's "Eye on the Storm" blog in the online PaBePo has the NOAA job announcement for the new Director of the National Hurricane Center, pay range $111,676 to $168,000. Deadline for applications is Oct. 24.
Sunny, mild. Helped by a maximum sun elevation of 50°, temperatures rose into the 60s this afternoon in the Washington metro area, despite a northerly wind gusting over 20 mph at times. National was 63° by mid afternoon, and Dulles was 60°, while some upper 60s were reported in the southern fringe of the region. A glancing blow from a Canadian Arctic air mass will give a brief reminder of winter tomorrow before temperatures rebound to more springlike levels.
Variable clouds, windy, cold. The sun angle is almost halfway between the winter solstice low and the spring equinox, but that natural cycle was heavily outweighed today in the Washington metro area by some frigid Arctic air reinforced on strong northwesterly breezes. Highs barely reached the upper 20s: National 27°, Dulles and BWI 24° Combined with the chilly overnight lows, the month's double-digit deficit from average was extended further.
Mostly cloudy, warm. A mid to upper level cloud deck and a sun intensity roughly equivalent to Jan. 15 might indicate otherwise, but strong southerly breezes pushed the November closing day temperatures very close to where they started the month in the Washington metro area. Highs were 70° at both National and Dulles; BWI was 71°. Dewpoints were nearly muggy in the spring-like mid and upper 50s.
Showers, continued mild. Mild temperatures will continue through tonight with increasing clouds and a 50% chance of showers by morning; lows will be in the mid to upper 50s. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with showers likely and highs in the upper 60s, turning much colder at night. A High Wind Watch is in effect for the afternoon through the evening, and there is a slight chance of thunderstorms.
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