WASHINGTON — If we include Presidents Day as part of the new workweek, we will be starting off the new week with morning temperatures more suitable for being high temperatures for this time of year.
A weak cold front will have passed through the region, changing our predominant wind direction to more northerly, so the rest of Monday won’t be as warm as it was over the weekend. Still, temperatures will max out well above average; we just won’t be challenging any records again for a few days.
The prevailing pattern across North America as shown by the jet stream configuration will feature a ridge of high pressure in the Southeast region of the country and a deep trough of low pressure in the West with only some minor fluctuations with the passage of a couple of weak fronts here in D.C. Arctic air will remain trapped in central Canada. The West Coast will continue to get more and more rainfall, and the higher elevations in the Rockies will get more snow. We will only get some variability with temperatures either being above average or well above average. By the end of the workweek, we could be challenging records again.
As unusually warm this pattern is, it’s also very dry. Most of the strongest energy will miss us to the northwest and we only have a chance for scattered showers with the weak fronts in the Tuesday and Wednesday time frames.
Beyond the workweek, there are some indications the colder weather will break down the ridge of high pressure in the East and, therefore, the warmth as we head into the weekend and a chance for some more rain as we head into March.
Daily weather highlights
MONDAY
— Mostly sunny skies
— High temperatures more like beginning of April
— A bit breezy
TUESDAY
— Sun early, then a few hours of clouds
— A few passing showers possible for a few hours
— Coolest day of the week, not that it will feel cool for February
WEDNESDAY
— A passing shower possible again early
— Clearing later and warming up again
— Large temperature contrast from north to south possible depending on speed of front
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
— Partly sunny, mid and high level clouds
— Possible record highs again
Editor’s Note: The WTOP Workweek Weather Blog is intended as an in-depth yet plain language summary of the business week’s weather potential in the D.C. area along with an explanation of the contingencies and uncertainties that exist at the time of publication. For the latest actual Storm Team 4 forecast, check out the main WTOP Weather Page.
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