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Cherry Blossom Chill

Dan Stillman @ 10:55 AM

** Freeze Warning in effect 11 PM tonight to 10 AM Saturday **
** Freeze Watch in effect late Friday night through Saturday morning **


Cold shots aren't unusual for early April, and in fact Mother Nature is notorious for blowing around Cherry Blossoms with an early-spring chill. This time, however, the wind and cold will be more biting than usual. Over the next several days we'll be lucky to hit 50, and even a few snowflakes aren't out of the question for tomorrow night into Saturday morning. The chilly details follow ...

Today


Forecast Confidence: High-Very HighCold and windy. We'll wake up to a breezy chill, with morning temperatures in the 30s and wind chills in the 20s. By late morning, sustained winds could reach 20-25 mph with gusts over 30 mph. That will keep wind chills from making it out of the 30s despite highs in the mid-to-upper 40s under partly sunny skies. Tonight, not as windy but still a steady breeze around 15 mph. It'll be mostly clear as overnight lows drop to near 30 in town, mid 20s in the burbs.

Tomorrow


Forecast Confidence: Medium-HighSimilar to today ... overnight flakes? Once again, I don't think we'll do much better than highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Although winds won't be as gusty as today, near 15 mph should be enough to keep wind chills in the 30s for much of the day. After a partly sunny start, look for increasing clouds by late afternoon, and diminishing winds by evening. Overnight, partly cloudy and very cold with lows in the upper 20s to near 30 in town, low-to-mid 20s in the burbs. Some overnight flurries or snow showers may accompany our sub-freezing temps, especially south and east of the metro area, depending on how close to the coast a low-pressure system develops.

The Weekend


Forecast Confidence: Medium-HighContinued cold. After a possible early-morning flurry or snow shower, the story on Saturday will be gusty winds and a reinforcing cold shot. It'll be partly cloudy with highs only in the low 40s and wind chills struggling to break freezing. Saturday night should be partly cloudy, breezy and cold, with lows in the upper 20s in town, low 20s in the burbs. Sunday, still breezy, but at least partly sunny and slightly warmer. Highs in the mid-to-upper 40s.

Pictured: Cherry Blossoms at peak bloom near the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon. By CapitalWeather.com photographer, Kevin Ambrose.

Sure, Blame the Weather


"Cold weather blamed for D.C. schools water crisis" reads the headline from Tuesday's Examiner. The story says that D.C. public schools were delayed in replacing water fountains, sinks and coolers because of a two-week cold snap in February. According to the Examiner, a report from the schools superintendent stated that the cold weather "shifted the priority to the [heating] systems."

You really have to feel for school officials. Those February cold snaps can come out of nowhere. Next thing you know, a "surprise" summer heat wave will "shift the priority" to installing and repairing air conditioning.

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