February 9, 2001
A warm February day is on tap for Friday, but interesting pattern changes are once again on the horizon.
We had an ugly day across the region on Monday with 5.4 inches of snow recorded in Clifton Heights, Delaware County. Just to our West, King of Prussia officially recorded 13" while areas across the river recorded an inch or two through around North Vineland, with little or no accumulation South or there. Temperatures are currently in the upper 30s and should drop off a few more degrees before the night is finished with partly cloudy skies.
Friday will start off partly cloudy, but clouds will be increasing during the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Could come close to breaking the record of 64, but limited amounts of sunshine should keep temps a few degrees below that threshold. Still, a very warm day indeed for early February. One needs only to glance at a few of the medium and long range models to see that we'd better enjoy our warm spell, we *may* pay for it towards the middle of the month.
On Friday night, rain showers are likely after midnight. Rumble or two of thunder may be heard as a powerful cold front passes across the region. Lows in the mid to upper 40s. Showers will end in the morning on Saturday and skies will clear throughout the day but it will be windy. High on Saturday around 50 early, but dropping into the 30s through the afternoon. Sunday will be mostly sunny and colder with highs in the mid to upper 30s.
Things get interesting towards Monday. No large scale storm system to discuss, but rather a jet streak heading Eastwards across the Southern US will have enough lift associated with it to form a band of light precip. Majority of guidance keeps precipitation just to our South, but the often reliable AVN continues to show light precip in PA on Monday. Regardless, looks very weak and unimpressive at the moment. However, guidance tends to struggle with these types of impulses, so will have to wait a few more runs to figure out where the precip band, if any, decides to set up. Will go with variable cloudiness on Monday with a chance for rain or snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s.
Partly to mostly sunny skies will prevail on Tuesday. Highs in the mid 40s. It is around this time that one piece of the Polar Vortex begins to rear it's ugly head towards the Upper Plains. The verdict is still out on the exact destination of this core of cold air, but the coldest air since December may be paying a visit to parts of the US by mid to late week. More details later.
So, a warm, but partly to mostly cloudy day on tap for Friday. Enjoy it, the 60 degree temperatures will not be hanging around for long. Showers and a rumble of thunder for Friday night into Saturday morning. Skies becoming mostly sunny by the afternoon. Temperatures in the 50s early, dropping into the 30s during the afternoon with windy conditions. Sunday will be mostly sunny and colder with highs in the mid 30s. Could be a rain or snow shower on Monday with highs in the upper 30s (check back later for details on this). Tuesday looks partly sunny with highs in the mid 40s. Have a great unseasonably warm day, we may not see another 60 degree day for a while.
