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FINALLY: Fall Weather Worth Waiting For
But Severe Drought Conditions Will Linger

Josh Larson @ 12:30 AM

Say goodbye to the relentless heat and humidity of the past three weeks, as yesterday's cold front finally brings fall-appropriate temperatures some 20-25 degrees cooler than earlier in the week. Unfortunately, our severe drought conditions will linger over the coming week to ten days; even worse, this dryness may persist or even worsen through the end of the year. Not good at all.

Today


Confidence: HighAhhhhhhh. Look for more clouds than sun today as an upper-level disturbance swings through. Temperatures topping out in the mid to upper 60s will be the coolest highs we've seen since May of this year! If you've forgotten what "comfortable" feels like, you're excused -- this is it. Partly cloudy and cool tonight with lows from the upper 40s to the low 50s.

Friday


Forecast Confidence: MediumSpectacular. Though temperatures will reach the mid to upper 60s under abundant sunshine on Friday, a gusty NW wind of 15-30mph will make it feel even cooler than the thermometer says. Downright crisp -- at least in the shade -- dare I say? Mostly clear and breezy Friday night with chilly overnight lows ranging from the low 40s across the coolest 'burbs to the upper 40s downtown.

The Weekend


Confidence: High-Very HighSimply sublime. We're in store for the most comfortable weekend weather since late spring of this year. Look for plenty of sunshine both Saturday and Sunday with afternoon high temperatures ranging from the mid to upper 60s and overnight lows, under mostly clear skies, dropping to the low to mid 40s across the coolest suburbs to near 50 downtown.

Pattern Overview


One of the most welcome cool downs in recent Washington, DC memory will drop temperatures some 20-25 degrees below where they were earlier in the week; though we're running nearly 13 degrees above normal for the month thus far, temperatures over the next four days will actually average a few degrees below normal. Thereafter, most mid- to longer-range computer models suggest that temperatures will creep back up to normal, then somewhat above-normal levels for much of next week. However, fear not, as all indications are that high temperatures over the next 10 days will remain comfortably below the 80 degree mark.

Pictured: a dip in the jet stream will bring dramatically cooler temperatures now through early next week; graphic courtesy Accuweather.

LARSON'S LONG-RANGE


Next week's forecast
Forecast highs/lows: 72/55 (normal = 67/49)
Forecast precip: Below-normal?

Confidence: High-Very HighLook for mostly sunny skies on Monday to give way to warmer high temperatures rising to the low to mid 70s. Clear and comfortable overnight, with lows primarily in the mid 50s. Expect similar conditions on Tuesday, with partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid 70s with overnight lows once again mostly in the mid 50s. Wednesday may feature an increase in clouds ahead of a possible approaching cold front; in fact, I can't rule out a chance for late day showers -- but don't hold your breath. Expect highs near 70 with overnight lows in the 50s. Though confidence is low from this far out, Thursday may feature mostly cloudy skies with a chance of lingering showers and cooler highs in the upper 60s. We may clear out on Friday, with highs in the mid to upper 60s and overnight lows in the upper 40s to low 50s.

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