Saturday, October 20, 2007
Drying Out and Staying Warm
Jason Samenow @ 1:15 PM
While we ended the 34 day dry streak yesterday, another impressive streak in its own right was extended: 29 straight days with temperatures at or above average. Though today will be cooler than the last several, it will remain above average and another warming trend begins tomorrow.
Breezy and mild. A steady (10-20mph) and occasionally gusty westerly wind will follow last night's front. Nonetheless, sunshine and the absence of Canadian cold will help temperatures reach the mid 70s. It will feel like fall, at least for a day.
Overnight, it will be clear and cool as winds diminish. Lows will range from the mid 40s in the suburbs to near 50 downtown.
Mostly sunny and mild. This day has nice day written all over it (look for the nice day stamp in tomorrow's post). Get ready for warm sunshine, low humidity and a light breeze. High temperatures should reach the mid to upper 70s.
Very warm. As advertised last week, Monday should be an unseasonably warm day as winds become southerly. The question right now is: how warm? I think we have at least a 50% chance at hitting 80, 25% chance of hitting 85 (breaking the record of 84), and 5% chance of hitting 90. The most likely range will be between 78-83.
Forecaster "Woody" at the National Weather Service in Sterling gives us some data to document yesterday's unusual warmth:
It's strange talking about freezes when minimum temperatures are struggling to drop below 70 in late October! Since 1980, 60% of first freezes have occurred after Nov 15 at Reagan National. 37% of the first freezes occurred between Nov 1 and Nov 15. Only one freeze occurred prior to Nov 1 -- Oct 20 in 1992. The latest first freeze occurred on December 4 in 2004. Results from the latest poll question "When will the first freeze occur at Reagan National?" demonstrate most CapitalWeather.com visitors know their climatology! The highest percentage of poll voters (44%) selected after Nov 15, 34% selected between Nov 1-15, 16% picked between Oct 16-31, with 6% choosing October 15 or earlier.
Please vote in the new poll on winter snow potential.
Today
Breezy and mild. A steady (10-20mph) and occasionally gusty westerly wind will follow last night's front. Nonetheless, sunshine and the absence of Canadian cold will help temperatures reach the mid 70s. It will feel like fall, at least for a day. Overnight, it will be clear and cool as winds diminish. Lows will range from the mid 40s in the suburbs to near 50 downtown.
Sunday
Mostly sunny and mild. This day has nice day written all over it (look for the nice day stamp in tomorrow's post). Get ready for warm sunshine, low humidity and a light breeze. High temperatures should reach the mid to upper 70s.Monday
Very warm. As advertised last week, Monday should be an unseasonably warm day as winds become southerly. The question right now is: how warm? I think we have at least a 50% chance at hitting 80, 25% chance of hitting 85 (breaking the record of 84), and 5% chance of hitting 90. The most likely range will be between 78-83.How Warm?
Forecaster "Woody" at the National Weather Service in Sterling gives us some data to document yesterday's unusual warmth:
TO ATTEST TO HOW WARM THIS AIRMASS HAS BEEN...THIS MORNING RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET AT ALL THREE MAJOR AIRPORTS. DCA AND BWI'S DATE BACK TO 1905 - BWI'S PREVIOUS WAS 67...NOW 68. DCA'S WAS 65...NOW 73. IAD'S WAS 57 (1968)...UPPED 13 DEGREES TO 70!
EVEN CRAZIER - THE OVERNIGHT DEWPOINT AT DCA (68) WAS HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS RECORD MIN TEMP.
First Freeze
It's strange talking about freezes when minimum temperatures are struggling to drop below 70 in late October! Since 1980, 60% of first freezes have occurred after Nov 15 at Reagan National. 37% of the first freezes occurred between Nov 1 and Nov 15. Only one freeze occurred prior to Nov 1 -- Oct 20 in 1992. The latest first freeze occurred on December 4 in 2004. Results from the latest poll question "When will the first freeze occur at Reagan National?" demonstrate most CapitalWeather.com visitors know their climatology! The highest percentage of poll voters (44%) selected after Nov 15, 34% selected between Nov 1-15, 16% picked between Oct 16-31, with 6% choosing October 15 or earlier.
Please vote in the new poll on winter snow potential.
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