The forecast has delivered the latest on what the skies will entail for the region over the next few days, revealing details of a cold front on its approach, slated to deliver some scattered showers and maybe a rumble or two of thunder as Saturday rolls in. But don't fetch your heavy coats just yet – "reinforcing high pressure builds back in through early next week, bringing fall-like conditions for a few days," according to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC forecast.
Before we brace for the cooler gusts, Friday maintains a semblance of serenity, thanks to a weak surface high pressure lingering overhead, "keeping us dry and seasonal through at least this evening. An area of low pressure offshore of the Carolinas quickly moves northeastward as a cold front and upper trough approach from the west," the NWS forecast details. Motorists are advised to be wary as patchy fog early this morning could reduce visibility, the low stratus that begins its trek from Delmarva, expected to clear up by the early afternoon, giving way to highs in the lower 80s.
Come evening, however, a large upper trough digs across the central/eastern Great Lakes and into PA/NY late tonight through Saturday, states the report. This movement speaks of isolated scattered showers potentially hitting most of the area. However, the storm's main force remains well to the north, with low chances of severe weather or flooding. With the clouds' presence, temperatures on Saturday might flirt with the 70s, and the mountains could see figures in the 60s.
The shift in weather will be felt more acutely come Saturday night as lows are predicted to drop into the 40s. Depending on temperature and dew point trends, a Frost Advisory is not out of the question for Highland/Pendleton/western Grant counties, where temps could approach freezing Monday morning. A few sites could even approach their daily record lows for September 8-9, drawing us closer to the heart of fall.
Aviation updates might interest those taking to the skies. Expect widespread low stratus at several airports this morning, with MVFR CIGs likely and IFR CIGs possible for a few hours around 10-13Z. Conditions should clear up as the afternoon embraces us. Mariners, meanwhile, are given a heads-up that Small Craft Advisories have been issued for all of the Chesapeake Bay and Lower Tidal Potomac from 2 PM Saturday to at least Sunday morning, citing the front’s influence on bringing gusty conditions.
