Our Friday was absolutely wonderful here in Central Virginia, with wall-to-wall sunshine and afternoon temperatures in the upper 60s. Meanwhile, it's been a very busy day in the Plains states down into Texas, where there have been numerous strong thunderstorms. Down in Texas, we've received numerous reports of tornadoes, hail and wind damage.
The weekend will start on a quiet note for us, with a blend of sun and clouds expected for Saturday. A light easterly flow will develop, producing more clouds in the afternoon and keeping our temperatures from rising too high. Afternoon readings should average in the mid and upper 60s, although coastal communities may stay in the 50s.
Some rain just west of the Blue Ridge will streak into our area later Saturday night and Sunday. The weekend will finish on a rather cloudy note, and it will be a bit wet at times. Then a front to our west will clear us out in time to start the new week.
Some rapid temperature changes next week...
With the return of sunshine on Monday, we'll also see a very quick warm up. Temperatures are likely to reach 80 degrees in most places on Monday and rise into the 80s on Tuesday. Then a strong cold front will approach the area on Wednesday, offering showers and thunderstorms. This front will be followed by a quick cool-down. Temperatures for the end of the week will average in the upper 50s to near 60 during the day and down into the chilly 30s (and 20s in some rural communities) at night.
The chill could linger for a couple of days. If you remember previous posts, we have been following this cool shot for a while, expecting it to affect the area between April 4-10. The following week should see temperatures return to near or above seasonal averages, which by then will be in the mid to upper 60s for daytime highs.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Some Record Highs Over the Region Today...
What a warm late March day! The high temp at Richmond International Airport was 86 degrees, one shy of the record set back in 1907. Records were set in a few places though, including 86 at Norfolk, 82 at Wallops Island and 83 in Elizabeth City, NC.
The warmth won't hang around though, as another backdoor front is on schedule to slide into the area by morning. There will probably be a range of temps across the area tomorrow, with readings in the lower to mid 60s over the Northern Neck to near 80 over Southside Virginia. Skies will be rather changeable and a few scattered showers will be around, along with the possibility of a thunderstorm or two.
As the front settles south on Thursday, much cooler air will take over with readings staying in the 50s. Friday morning will be quite chilly (in the 30s), but it looks like a warm-up for the weekend. The outlook for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k still looks promising, although some of our data is suggesting a decent amount of moisture around Saturday morning. This will likely just mean more cloud cover, and that could help to keep temperatures down a bit...good news for the runners. I still believe afternoon temperatures should reach the 70s both weekend days.
It still looks cooler later next week...
Yesterday I pointed out a change in the overall weather pattern later next week, leading to some cooler weather April 4-10. That still looks like a good bet at this point. It doesn't look exceptionally chilly though...and the average high is in the mid 60s.
The warmth won't hang around though, as another backdoor front is on schedule to slide into the area by morning. There will probably be a range of temps across the area tomorrow, with readings in the lower to mid 60s over the Northern Neck to near 80 over Southside Virginia. Skies will be rather changeable and a few scattered showers will be around, along with the possibility of a thunderstorm or two.
As the front settles south on Thursday, much cooler air will take over with readings staying in the 50s. Friday morning will be quite chilly (in the 30s), but it looks like a warm-up for the weekend. The outlook for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k still looks promising, although some of our data is suggesting a decent amount of moisture around Saturday morning. This will likely just mean more cloud cover, and that could help to keep temperatures down a bit...good news for the runners. I still believe afternoon temperatures should reach the 70s both weekend days.
It still looks cooler later next week...
Yesterday I pointed out a change in the overall weather pattern later next week, leading to some cooler weather April 4-10. That still looks like a good bet at this point. It doesn't look exceptionally chilly though...and the average high is in the mid 60s.
Monday, March 26, 2007
More warm weather...
Despite a slight cool-down the last couple of days, temperatures across the region remain above average for this time of the year. Our averages in Richmond are a high of 62 and a low of 40. Tuesday will prove to be a very warm one, with afternoon readings in the 80s! The record high at RIC is 87 degrees, set in 1907 and we have an outside shot at reaching it.
This seems to be the time for backdoor cold fronts. Yet another one will settle into the area by Wednesday, leading to changeable skies and possibly a few showers. There's a better shot at showers Wednesday night and Thursday, as cooler air slides into the region. We'll break out of it on Friday though, and more warmer days are on tap for the weekend.
In the longer term...
Looking down the road, there may be a shot of much cooler air arriving between April 4-10, as the upper pattern shifts with a bit of a trough setting up in the East. However, the flow flattens after that and it looks like we'll be near or above average temperature-wise in mid-April. With a mainly zonal flow, it doesn't appear that we'll have any big rain events either.
This seems to be the time for backdoor cold fronts. Yet another one will settle into the area by Wednesday, leading to changeable skies and possibly a few showers. There's a better shot at showers Wednesday night and Thursday, as cooler air slides into the region. We'll break out of it on Friday though, and more warmer days are on tap for the weekend.
In the longer term...
Looking down the road, there may be a shot of much cooler air arriving between April 4-10, as the upper pattern shifts with a bit of a trough setting up in the East. However, the flow flattens after that and it looks like we'll be near or above average temperature-wise in mid-April. With a mainly zonal flow, it doesn't appear that we'll have any big rain events either.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
It's "officially" spring...
The vernal equinox occurred Tuesday evening and it's now "officially" spring. Today being the first full day certainly didn't feel like it. Temperatures were stuck in the 40s with lots of cloud cover due to a breeze off the Atlantic. I thought I'd take a look back at some statistics from March 21st over the last ten years in Richmond (the average high is 60 degrees). Here's what I came up with:
2006 - temps in the mid 40s with up to 1" of snow at night!
2005 - a high around 60 with plenty of sunshine
2004 - a high of 61 with gusty winds and periods of sunshine
2003 - a high of 63 with lots of clouds and a few showers around
2002 - a high of 60, but record cold two days later
2001 - a high of 55 with plenty of rain and wind
2000 - a high of 50 with rain and drizzle
1999 - a high of 57 with a lot of rain
1998 - temps in the mid 40s with light rain
1997 - a high of 69 with plenty of sunshine
It turns out that most of these days have been near or below average temperature-wise. You have to go back to 1997 to find a very mild March 21st. Certainly interesting...
The latest on our outlook for the next week or so...
The weather is in for a big change over the next several days, as surface high pressure shifts off the East Coast and our wind turns to the southwest. That along with the return of the sun tomorrow should boost afternoon temperatures into the 70s and to around 80 on Friday. Another cold front will slide in from the north by the weekend. It won't produce much rain, although a few scattered showers are possible. The front will struggle to get very far south and won't offer the dramatic change in temperature we've had with this last front. We should be in the 60s Sunday and probably again on Monday. Then it looks like we could jump into the 70s again by Tuesday and the longer range data is showing a prominent upper level ridge dominating the East later next week, so more warm weather is in our future to finish the month.
If you have a question or comment to share about the weather, e-mail me at mgoldberg@wtvr.com.
Mike
2006 - temps in the mid 40s with up to 1" of snow at night!
2005 - a high around 60 with plenty of sunshine
2004 - a high of 61 with gusty winds and periods of sunshine
2003 - a high of 63 with lots of clouds and a few showers around
2002 - a high of 60, but record cold two days later
2001 - a high of 55 with plenty of rain and wind
2000 - a high of 50 with rain and drizzle
1999 - a high of 57 with a lot of rain
1998 - temps in the mid 40s with light rain
1997 - a high of 69 with plenty of sunshine
It turns out that most of these days have been near or below average temperature-wise. You have to go back to 1997 to find a very mild March 21st. Certainly interesting...
The latest on our outlook for the next week or so...
The weather is in for a big change over the next several days, as surface high pressure shifts off the East Coast and our wind turns to the southwest. That along with the return of the sun tomorrow should boost afternoon temperatures into the 70s and to around 80 on Friday. Another cold front will slide in from the north by the weekend. It won't produce much rain, although a few scattered showers are possible. The front will struggle to get very far south and won't offer the dramatic change in temperature we've had with this last front. We should be in the 60s Sunday and probably again on Monday. Then it looks like we could jump into the 70s again by Tuesday and the longer range data is showing a prominent upper level ridge dominating the East later next week, so more warm weather is in our future to finish the month.
If you have a question or comment to share about the weather, e-mail me at mgoldberg@wtvr.com.
Mike
Welcome!
Let's talk about the weather! Many of you have been reading my column on wtvr.com and it's taking on a new look. I'll expand a bit on what I've already been doing, by talking about current weather events, sometimes checking historical stats and of course taking a glance at what the future holds in store for Central Virginia. Enjoy!
Mike
Mike
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