Forecast: Warm air hangs around, big change looms

Despite afternoon showers and thunderstorms which impacted the area on Wednesday, warm and humid air remained in place throughout the region. The surface cold front, lagging well back to the west over the Ohio Valley, isn’t expected to cross the area until Saturday afternoon. As a result, the warm and humid air will remain in place for a few more days … for Friday and part of Saturday. High temperatures on both days are expected to reach into the upper 70’s and could exceed 80 degrees in some locations. These types of temperatures are not incredibly rare in October, but are definitely above normal for this time of year. The humidity certainly isn’t helping, giving the air more of an August-like feel than the usual Autumn air which is in place over our area during October. However, fall lovers, fear not! The strong cold front mentioned earlier is on its way, and will bring some of the coolest air of the season into the Northeast US with it. The one caveat to the scenario could be a wave of low pressure which some forecast models show riding along the cold front to our east. This would bring a cold, raw rain to the area on Sunday with temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s. We’ll have to keep a close eye on it for a potential weekend spoiler — and impact on the Yankees in the ALDS (if it is played in Baltimore for Game 1, Texas would have no weather issues). Stay tuned!

NAM Model showing a cold front approaching the area on Saturday. Notice the big drop in temperatures behind the front over Pennsylvania.

Friday: Partly cloudy, but the main story will be the continuation of above normal temperatures with warmth and humidity. Cold front still lagging back to our west. Uncomfortable air, still — too warm for long sleeves. Temperatures in the upper 70’s to near 80 in some spots. Isolated showers should be less prevalent than they were on Tuesday.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy once again, and warm once again. Isolated fog. Temperatures staying in the upper 50’s to middle 60’s in the warmer spots.

Saturday: Very warm and partly cloudy to start, with temperatures in the mid 70’s and rising into the lower 80’s by early afternoon. A cold front quickly approaching from the West will bring an increase in clouds and a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds will shift quickly west behind the front and temperatures/humidity will drop.

Saturday Night: West winds and eventually clearing skies will be the first signs of a new airmass entering the area. Cooler air will be in place as well — so temperatures will drop into the 40’s and 50’s throughout the area overnight. Should feel very refreshing compared to the warm and humid airmass of prior days.

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