What season is it again?? The calendar may say it’s fall, but our temperatures say otherwise. It’s another day with well-above average readings, topping out in the middle to upper 70s inland, and 60s to around 70 at the coast with sea breezes kicking in today. Danielle shares the battle you may not want to have with your kids this morning – and let’s you know when chilly fall air returns. Read on for the National and Northeast weather summary.
A broad frontal system exiting the East Coast on Thursday will mark the end of the extended warm spell across much of the Eastern U.S., bringing cooler, more seasonable temperatures in its wake. Surface high pressure will settle in behind the cold front, reinforcing the cooler air across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and into the Northeast by the weekend. Rainfall will be generally light, with any showers tied to the front mainly confined to parts of the Midwest and Northeast, but no significant precipitation is expected. High pressure will also bring dry conditions to much of the eastern half of the country through the end of the week.
Out West, a developing upper-level trough will bring the next round of rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest, beginning Friday. Coastal Washington and Oregon are likely to see the heaviest rainfall as moisture streams onshore, with rain spreading inland to the Northern Rockies and Cascades. Snow will be confined to the highest elevations, especially in Glacier National Park, Montana. A significant pattern shift is expected early next week, with colder air and more widespread precipitation across the West.
Temperatures will remain above average across much of the central and southern Plains and the Southwest, with highs running 10 to 20 degrees above normal. These warmer conditions will persist until the weekend, when cooler air arrives. In contrast, more seasonable temperatures will prevail along the East Coast following the midweek cold front.
The stretch of unseasonably warm weather continues today across New England and the Northeast. High pressure remains dominant, with plenty of sunshine and highs reaching the mid to upper 70s across much of the region. Interior areas, such as the Connecticut River Valley, may even push close to 80°F, making for another day of summer-like conditions. Coastal areas will see slightly cooler temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s, as onshore flow develops, but it will still be quite warm for late October.
The weather will remain dry, but the combination of low humidity and gusty winds, especially in southern New England, raises fire weather concerns. Residents and emergency management personnel should remain cautious, as vegetation remains dry and fire spread potential remains elevated.
Cloud cover will increase late Tuesday into Wednesday night as a cold front approaches from the west. This front will bring scattered showers to parts of New York and northern New England by Wednesday night, but rainfall amounts will be light. Coastal and southern areas, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, will likely see little to no rain – aside from perhaps a passing brief shower Wednesday night into early Thursday.
Cool air will sweep in behind the front, with temperatures falling back into the upper 50s and low 60s—more typical for late October on Thursday. Breezy northwest winds will develop, particularly across coastal areas, and gusts could reach 20 to 30 mph, especially in higher elevations.
