This week sure has felt like spring, thanks to our buddy Punxsutawney Phil up in Pennsylvania. He did not see his shadow, indicating an early spring this year. His scientific methods are a little questionable, but was he correct? Some say yes after the week we’ve had, but I say maybe not. Temperatures will continue to be mild into tomorrow, but over the weekend winter will return as Jack Frost swoops back into town.
Tonight:
Skies will remain mostly cloudy, and temperatures will drop into the upper 40s overnight. Some patchy fog will develop in our area, so stay vigilant if you are driving. Winds will be blowing from the southeast at around 5 miles per hour and will shift to be coming from the south as the night goes on. These southerly winds will help to bring in slightly warmer air to boost temperatures tomorrow.
Tomorrow (Friday):
Cloudy skies will stick around in the morning, but cloud cover will decrease as the day goes on, letting the sun peek through. Temperatures will rise to be near 60 degrees! This high temperature, however, will be in the late morning hours, and temperatures will drop throughout the afternoon after a cold front passes through. Winds will blow from the west between 7 and 12 miles per hour in the morning and increase to between 13 and 18 miles per hour in the afternoon. Wind gusts could reach up to 32 miles per hour, making for a very breezy day.
This is the forecast chart for 12Z (7 a.m. EST) on Friday. The cold front stretching over the east coast will move across our region on Friday, followed by high pressure moving in from Canada (via the National Weather Service).
Tomorrow Night:
Skies will be mostly clear, allowing temperatures to drop dramatically overnight. The low temperature will be only 25 degrees! The winds will stick around as well, blowing at 13 to 15 miles per hour with higher gusts at times. Cold temperatures and breezy conditions will make for a very frigid evening in College Park, so definitely grab a jacket if you are headed out.
A Look Ahead:
Sunny skies will persist through the weekend and will be accompanied by cold temperatures. Saturday, the high temperature will only be in the mid 30s, and Sunday, the high temperature will only be near 40 degrees. There is potential for some winter weather at the start on next week on Monday and Tuesday. However, whether precipitation will fall as rain, ice or snow will depend on the temperatures, so we will have to wait and see.
Featured image via Pixabay.com