Forecast: Cold front will bring big weather change

Warm, humid, uncomfortable. Those three words are just a few that accurately describe the air that has been in place throughout the area over the last several days — and although some have enjoyed it, the lack of sunshine has kept things more dreary and uncomfortable than summery and hot. It is safe to say, in fact, that if the sun had come out for more extended periods of time, temperatures would have soared into the lower to possibly even middle 80’s in this airmass. However, it was not to be…as the moist tropical air brought plenty of clouds and instability with it. Still, some enjoyed what looks to be the last taste of late-summer air over the end of last week into this weekend. Now, as we approach the middle point of the weekend, a cold front is right on our doorstep — and it will bring a dramatic weather change. No showers or strong thunderstorms are expected, but the temperature drop over the next several hours will be fairly dramatic with some areas falling from the upper 70’s and low 80’s into the 40’s and 50’s by this evening. Winds will shift quickly from the south/southwest to the west/northwest in the wake of the cold front. And, with its passage, will come a new autumn airmass with much less humidity. That being said, things will remain unsettled before the crisp, sunny autumn days can arrive. A low pressure area on a cold front will provide showers and rain with raw and chilly temperatures on Sunday. Check out the details below.

NAM Model showing low pressure offshore causing periods of rain in the area on Sunday.

Rest of Today: Cooling off throughout the afternoon as a front passes the area from west to east. Wind shift from south to west with the frontal passage. Temperatures topping out in the upper 70’s very early in the afternoon, falling into the 40’s and 50’s by early evening.You may be more comfortable in jeans by around dinner time, if you were wearing shorts/tshirts/etc this morning as a result of the warm air.

Tonight: Winds from the west behind the front, and clearing skies. Temperatures will fall into the 40’s inland and in the 50’s in the warm spots. Some isolated interior locations could bottom out in the upper 30’s. Much, much cooler than the past several nights. It will be very noticeable.

Sunday/ALDS Game 1 Forecast: Sunday may start off decent, with temperatures very cool and some clouds beginning to work back into the area. By the mid to late afternoon, showers and periods of steady rain will begin working into the area from the southwest. The culprit? And area of low pressure riding along the cold front to our east (yes, the one that passed us on Saturday). The rain will continue through Sunday Night with temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s (yikes). The ALDS Game 1 in Baltimore looks to have some issues — at the very least, cool and raw temperatures with showers likely (more than 50%) at some point during the game. It will be interesting to see if they play the game through the rain, or opt to push it back and delay the series by a day as a result. Either way, Go Yankees.

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