Frigid start to Spring, soaking rain and wind this weekend, and Lunar eclipse pre-dawn Monday!

As people celebrated the first full day of Spring yesterday, a cold front crossed late in the day.   The front generated afternoon rain, graupel, and snow squalls that deposited around an inch of snow in the higher elevations.  There were even some reports of thunder!

 

Gusty post-frontal wind drove colder air into our area last night through today, resulting in much-below-normal temperatures.   High pressure will move over our area tonight, bringing clear skies and light wind.  This will result in widespread lows in the upper teens and lower 20s.

 

 

High pressure will provide sunshine and light wind, albeit with temperatures remaining below normal.    Meanwhile, a storm system will intensify over the Southeast Friday and Friday night.  Rain will arrive in our area late Friday night. The wind will also increase from the southeast, especially over the higher elevations.  

 

 

 

 

That system will track northeastward to off the Mid-Atlantic coast by Saturday night.   Rain will overtake our area late Friday night into Saturday morning, lasting through Saturday evening.   There could be some brief mixed precipitation in the higher elevations at the onset and again at the conclusion of the event, but no accumulations are expected.  Gusty southeast wind will continue during the morning, subsiding for a bit during the afternoon before a strong north wind gusting to 40 mph develops late in the day and Saturday night.    Total precipitation amounts will range from around a half inch over our northwestern counties, to nearly two inches in the southern Poconos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The storm system will depart, allowing for mostly sunny skies. The wind will gust to near 40 mph from the north early in the day.  The gusty winds will subside during the afternoon, with high temperatures ranging from the upper 30s in the higher elevations to the upper 40s in the valleys.   Don’t forget to watch the lunar eclipse early Monday morning as skies should be clear!  The Earth’s shadow will start darkening the Moon at 12:53 AM, with over 95% of the moon obscured by the Earth’s shadow at 3:12 AM.  The eclipse will end at 5:32 AM Monday.  Enjoy!