Short Term:
Tonight: After a treat to near-normal temperatures this afternoon, temperatures will take a nose dive into the upper 20s/lower 30s tonight under mostly cloudy skies. Even though a strong area of high pressure sits over the region, a very intense jet streak (embedded faster flow within the mean upper level jet) is screaming over our heads at 30,000 feet, spreading a dense cirrus deck into the Mid Atlantic.

Tomorrow: By tomorrow afternoon, many of the cirrus clouds should have thinned, yielding a partly cloudy afternoon with high temperatures near climatological values (mid 40s).

A Snowy Redskin's Game?
As the 'skins return to FedEx Field Sunday afternoon, Mother nature may be concocting an event to add some pizzaz to the already heated rivalry between the Redskins and Cowboys.

When: Sunday, December 18-Monday, December 19
Impact:
Confidence: Medium
Commentary: An area of low pressure will begin organizing along the western Gulf Coast Tomorrow, and track eastward into the Southeastern states by Sunday morning. Presently, the atmosphere appears like it will be cold enough to support a plain snow event for the District, changing to rain the closer to get to the Delmarva. Latest indications are we will remain on the northern edges of this low pressure system, which would limit snowfall potential to below 3 inches. The timing may turn out being perfect for some wintry scenes out of Landover this Sunday.


The map at right is a graphical depiction for Sunday's snow event. If this low were to track 100 miles farther west than currently forecast, we could be looking at a decent snow event come Sunday night/Monday. But for now, I am only expecting a minor impact from this system on the immediate metro region.

Extended Outlook:Continued Cold, or a warmer future?

Next 5 Days (Monday 19-Saturday 24)
Precipitation: Below Normal (Average is 0.5")
Temperatures: Near to slightly below average (Average High: 45/Low: 30)
The weather pattern evolving over the next week will be a stagnant one, featuring a large upper level trough over southeastern Canada, and a ridge over the West Coast. This type of atmosphere generally favors a more placid pattern with below normal precip. We may see a few flurries here and there by the end of the week as very weak upper level "wavelets" pass near the Mid Atlantic.

Following 5 Days (Sunday 25-Friday 30)
Precipitation: Near Normal
Temperatures: Slightly Below Normal (Average High: 44/Low: 29)
Come Christmas time, I am expect near to slightly below normal temperatures. Some models are hinting at another ramp-up of the southern Jet Stream, which would favor more storms sliding along the Southeastern States by the end of December. Granted, forecast confidence at this range is quite low, and there remain significant timing differences between global models.