Northeast freezes, then turns almost summery next week
Updated Apr 22, 2021 1:46 AM EDT
In areas of the middle and North Atlantic states, a late-April freeze due to a cold air mass could cause agricultural damage Wednesday evening. In Newark, New Jersey, where a low of 33 degrees Fahrenheit, April 19, of last year was the first April record low recorded there in this century, it will be close to freezing tomorrow morning. Places farther inland in the higher elevations will sink well down through the 20s. This issue has not been studied sufficiently yet to draw any conclusions, but it is interesting that last year's late-April chill and this year's late-April chill both occurred during the COVID-19 era. We know that carbon emissions have been cut during these times. For most of us, the cold is simply one of those things we'll have to deal with, bundling up to go outside Thursday and hoping that our furry friends take care of their business quickly! In many places, it will not be quite as cold Thursday night as Wednesday night. Friday and the weekend will turn milder and by next Tuesday and Wednesday, afternoon temperatures in many areas will be in the 60s and 70s.
This surface analysis from 3 p.m. Wednesday shows a very tight pressure gradient from eastern Canada to the Carolinas. Strong northwest winds brought much colder air in quickly. Here are some examples of rapid temperature drops at a couple locations on Wednesday:
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the temperature dropped 21 degrees in two hours at a time of day when the temperature usually rises. In addition, there was also a thunderstorm. North of Philadelphia, at Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, it was a balmy 60 degrees at noon, but 34 degrees with snow flurries a couple of hours later!
The radar picture for 8:10 p.m. Wednesday shows the cold front off the East Coast and an array of snow showers downwind from the Great Lakes. You can also see heavier snow across northern New England, as suggested by the GFS forecast map for this time:
Here are the GFS-predicted low temperatures for Wednesday night and the projected high temperatures for Thursday. The high temperature at Duluth, Minnesota, on Thursday was almost a match to the height of Duluth, Georgia.
The forecast now for Thursday afternoon shows extensive snow flurries over the higher terrain in the Northeast, with a separate area over West Virginia. If the map was dated Jan. 22, instead of April 22, it would look perfectly appropriate.
Friday will still be chilly across most of the Northeast, but the temperatures will start staging a recovery.
Here are the GFS-produced high temperature predictions for Friday afternoon:
Saturday will be milder throughout the Northeast, as shown by the map below. Although, an area rain will approach from the Ohio Valley.
To show you that the rain could affect a fairly large area, here is the map for Sunday at 2 a.m.
By Sunday afternoon, however, the rain looks like it is mostly offshore:
Next week will feature a complete turnaround in terms of temperature. The Monday afternoon forecast map shows a southwesterly flow from Texas to the Great Lakes, and the warmup will spread eastward Tuesday and Wednesday.
In fact, look at these projected temperatures for Tuesday afternoon:
The next cold front will take at least several days to reach the East, and the air behind it will be nowhere near as cold as the air mass currently affecting the region.
Report a Typo
Weather Blogs / Northeast US weather
Northeast freezes, then turns almost summery next week
Updated Apr 22, 2021 1:46 AM EDT
In areas of the middle and North Atlantic states, a late-April freeze due to a cold air mass could cause agricultural damage Wednesday evening. In Newark, New Jersey, where a low of 33 degrees Fahrenheit, April 19, of last year was the first April record low recorded there in this century, it will be close to freezing tomorrow morning. Places farther inland in the higher elevations will sink well down through the 20s. This issue has not been studied sufficiently yet to draw any conclusions, but it is interesting that last year's late-April chill and this year's late-April chill both occurred during the COVID-19 era. We know that carbon emissions have been cut during these times. For most of us, the cold is simply one of those things we'll have to deal with, bundling up to go outside Thursday and hoping that our furry friends take care of their business quickly! In many places, it will not be quite as cold Thursday night as Wednesday night. Friday and the weekend will turn milder and by next Tuesday and Wednesday, afternoon temperatures in many areas will be in the 60s and 70s.
This surface analysis from 3 p.m. Wednesday shows a very tight pressure gradient from eastern Canada to the Carolinas. Strong northwest winds brought much colder air in quickly. Here are some examples of rapid temperature drops at a couple locations on Wednesday:
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the temperature dropped 21 degrees in two hours at a time of day when the temperature usually rises. In addition, there was also a thunderstorm. North of Philadelphia, at Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, it was a balmy 60 degrees at noon, but 34 degrees with snow flurries a couple of hours later!
The radar picture for 8:10 p.m. Wednesday shows the cold front off the East Coast and an array of snow showers downwind from the Great Lakes. You can also see heavier snow across northern New England, as suggested by the GFS forecast map for this time:
Here are the GFS-predicted low temperatures for Wednesday night and the projected high temperatures for Thursday. The high temperature at Duluth, Minnesota, on Thursday was almost a match to the height of Duluth, Georgia.
The forecast now for Thursday afternoon shows extensive snow flurries over the higher terrain in the Northeast, with a separate area over West Virginia. If the map was dated Jan. 22, instead of April 22, it would look perfectly appropriate.
Friday will still be chilly across most of the Northeast, but the temperatures will start staging a recovery.
Here are the GFS-produced high temperature predictions for Friday afternoon:
Saturday will be milder throughout the Northeast, as shown by the map below. Although, an area rain will approach from the Ohio Valley.
To show you that the rain could affect a fairly large area, here is the map for Sunday at 2 a.m.
By Sunday afternoon, however, the rain looks like it is mostly offshore:
Next week will feature a complete turnaround in terms of temperature. The Monday afternoon forecast map shows a southwesterly flow from Texas to the Great Lakes, and the warmup will spread eastward Tuesday and Wednesday.
In fact, look at these projected temperatures for Tuesday afternoon:
The next cold front will take at least several days to reach the East, and the air behind it will be nowhere near as cold as the air mass currently affecting the region.
Report a Typo