Monday Overview: Warming trend throughout the week

While the frost remains on car windshields and grassy surface this morning, there is some brighter and warmer news in the future. Temperatures by the middle part of this work week will warm quite dramatically, with high temperatures again approaching and exceeding 70 F in many locations. As we look ahead, however, the rest of Monday will remain quite cold and blustery.

Low temperatures on Monday morning bottomed out in the 20’s throughout much of the interior, with a hard freeze occurring in many locations. Even in New York City, low temperatures approached freezing — although we are still awaiting official numbers. Islip, NY unofficially broke their daily low temperature record when they reached a temperature of 30 F shortly before sunrise.

The brisk temperatures, owing to a deep and anomalous trough in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere, will hold on throughout the day on Monday. High temperatures will reach only into the lower 50’s with a northwest wind continuing. But airmass modification will accelerate during the day, and by Tuesday the recovery in temperatures will be underway.

The cold and anomalous airmass will begin shifting northeast of the region, with temperatures in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere rebounding to near normal levels by Wednesday. In fact, mid level ridging will begin developing by that time as well, with troughiness developing much farther to our west.

This will help facilitate warmer temperatures, with southerly winds at the surface bringing in much more comfortable air. By Thursday, high temperatures could approach or exceed 70 F in some areas, with a frontal boundary remaining to our north and west.

This air will certainly feel welcomed. While the pattern will remain transitional, with additional shots of cold air expected within the next 14 days, we can enjoy this week knowing that warmer days are ahead. For now.