Weather pattern to turn upside down again in Northeast
By
Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Mar 11, 2021 6:38 PM EST
|
Updated Mar 12, 2021 9:09 PM EST
Millions of Americans who live in the Northeast may be nothing short of giddy after basking in unseasonable warmth amid a spring tease this week. The weather pattern comes after a harsh winter. Even though temperatures were near to slightly above normal for much of the season across the region, bitter cold in February and above-normal seasonal snowfall totals may have left many feeling in need of a big thaw like the one this week's pattern offered.
But for those experiencing a case of spring fever, AccuWeather meteorologists have some not-so-great news: Late winter's chill is set to return in time for the weekend.
Temperatures soared across the Northeast on Thursday. Before noon, temperatures had already climbed to the middle 60s in cities like Philadelphia and D.C., later reaching the 70s during the afternoon. Normal mid-March temperatures for these two cities are in the lower to middle 50s.
Unseasonable warmth also extended into New England, where cities like Boston and Hartford soared into the lower to middle 70s. Boston even broke a record high with temperatures reaching 74 degrees, breaking the old record of 67 set back in 1990. That put Boston 30 degrees above the normal high for Mar. 11.
Worcester and Providence also saw their old daily high records fall with temperatures reaching 70 and 72 degrees, respectively.
In most areas, Friday was not nearly as warm as Thursday, but afternoon high temperatures were well above normal.
While dry weather is forecast to return on Saturday, so too is more wintry air.
"Those who were enjoying the warmth this week in the Northeast will be in for a drastic change come Saturday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker.
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On Saturday, temperatures in central Maine to central New York are forecast to reach only the middle 30s, with temperatures across parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey expected to be in the 40s.
Not only are temperatures forecast to plummet drastically within 24 hours, but also compared to Thursday's afternoon highs, it will be a bit of a shock, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
"After a high of 71 degrees in New York City on Thursday, temperatures will be stuck in the 40s on Saturday," said Walker.
Adding to the chilly conditions will be gusty winds across much of New England. Despite sunshine, places like Boston will have AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in the 30s throughout the day on Saturday. Wind gusts up to 55 mph may be possible at times from Friday night through Saturday.
Not much of a difference in daytime highs are likely on Sunday compared to Saturday across the Northeast. Dry weather will allow for sunshine.
However, a reinforcing dose of cold air is forecast to sweep in Sunday night and set the stage for a brisk and cold Monday in the region. High temperatures on Monday versus Sunday will be an average of 10-15 degrees lower. In Boston, the high near 30 on Monday will be lower than the average high for any day in the winter.
"The cooler air sticking around into early next week will leave open the possibility for snow in some locations across the northern tier next week," explained Walker.
The same storm set to produce record-challenging snow and dangerous severe thunderstorms across the Rockies and Plains this weekend may hold together long enough to bring wet weather to the East early next week.
"Even though the storm will be but a shell compared to that of this weekend over the Rockies and High Plains by the time it reaches the Eastern states, it can still produce impactful rain and wintry mix over the northern tier," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
"The storm will still have enough of a punch to bring several inches of snow to parts of the Midwest from Sunday night to Monday night and raise the risk of heavy, gusty and perhaps isolated severe thunderstorms over portions of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Monday," Sosnowski added.
The extent and intensity of cold air set to encompass the Northeast early in the week will determine how widespread snow or a rain and snow mix will be across the region.
Accumulating snow, at this time, is most likely to fall in the higher elevations of New England, but it's possible the storm may draw in enough warm air from the Southeast to prevent snow from falling in most areas.
AccuWeather long-range meteorologists are forecasting more waves of cold air to arrive through at least the end of March, which will make it possible for more snowflakes to fly in the Northeast during the remainder of the month.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Weather Forecasts
Weather pattern to turn upside down again in Northeast
By Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Mar 11, 2021 6:38 PM EST | Updated Mar 12, 2021 9:09 PM EST
Millions of Americans who live in the Northeast may be nothing short of giddy after basking in unseasonable warmth amid a spring tease this week. The weather pattern comes after a harsh winter. Even though temperatures were near to slightly above normal for much of the season across the region, bitter cold in February and above-normal seasonal snowfall totals may have left many feeling in need of a big thaw like the one this week's pattern offered.
But for those experiencing a case of spring fever, AccuWeather meteorologists have some not-so-great news: Late winter's chill is set to return in time for the weekend.
Temperatures soared across the Northeast on Thursday. Before noon, temperatures had already climbed to the middle 60s in cities like Philadelphia and D.C., later reaching the 70s during the afternoon. Normal mid-March temperatures for these two cities are in the lower to middle 50s.
Unseasonable warmth also extended into New England, where cities like Boston and Hartford soared into the lower to middle 70s. Boston even broke a record high with temperatures reaching 74 degrees, breaking the old record of 67 set back in 1990. That put Boston 30 degrees above the normal high for Mar. 11.
Worcester and Providence also saw their old daily high records fall with temperatures reaching 70 and 72 degrees, respectively.
In most areas, Friday was not nearly as warm as Thursday, but afternoon high temperatures were well above normal.
While dry weather is forecast to return on Saturday, so too is more wintry air.
"Those who were enjoying the warmth this week in the Northeast will be in for a drastic change come Saturday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
On Saturday, temperatures in central Maine to central New York are forecast to reach only the middle 30s, with temperatures across parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey expected to be in the 40s.
Not only are temperatures forecast to plummet drastically within 24 hours, but also compared to Thursday's afternoon highs, it will be a bit of a shock, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
"After a high of 71 degrees in New York City on Thursday, temperatures will be stuck in the 40s on Saturday," said Walker.
Adding to the chilly conditions will be gusty winds across much of New England. Despite sunshine, places like Boston will have AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in the 30s throughout the day on Saturday. Wind gusts up to 55 mph may be possible at times from Friday night through Saturday.
Not much of a difference in daytime highs are likely on Sunday compared to Saturday across the Northeast. Dry weather will allow for sunshine.
However, a reinforcing dose of cold air is forecast to sweep in Sunday night and set the stage for a brisk and cold Monday in the region. High temperatures on Monday versus Sunday will be an average of 10-15 degrees lower. In Boston, the high near 30 on Monday will be lower than the average high for any day in the winter.
"The cooler air sticking around into early next week will leave open the possibility for snow in some locations across the northern tier next week," explained Walker.
The same storm set to produce record-challenging snow and dangerous severe thunderstorms across the Rockies and Plains this weekend may hold together long enough to bring wet weather to the East early next week.
"Even though the storm will be but a shell compared to that of this weekend over the Rockies and High Plains by the time it reaches the Eastern states, it can still produce impactful rain and wintry mix over the northern tier," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
"The storm will still have enough of a punch to bring several inches of snow to parts of the Midwest from Sunday night to Monday night and raise the risk of heavy, gusty and perhaps isolated severe thunderstorms over portions of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Monday," Sosnowski added.
The extent and intensity of cold air set to encompass the Northeast early in the week will determine how widespread snow or a rain and snow mix will be across the region.
Accumulating snow, at this time, is most likely to fall in the higher elevations of New England, but it's possible the storm may draw in enough warm air from the Southeast to prevent snow from falling in most areas.
AccuWeather long-range meteorologists are forecasting more waves of cold air to arrive through at least the end of March, which will make it possible for more snowflakes to fly in the Northeast during the remainder of the month.
Related:
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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