1/19 AM Zones Update: Unsettled pattern will continue

High pressure has built into the region this morning, and will set the table for fair weather during the remainder of the day today. Temperatures throughout the northeast are expected to remain above average, by several degrees, despite the presence of this high pressure. You can thank a modified Pacific airmass for that!

An active, unsettled pattern still looks likely to continue. The first in a series of disturbances will arrive on Friday evening. While the disturbance will be weak and relatively progressive, it does have a weak surface low pressure area and enough lift and moisture for precipitation. A few bands of showers are likely to spread north from the Mid Atlantic into the Northeast on Friday.

These bands of rain are most likely after 2:00pm on Friday, starting in Southeast PA and Southern NJ and moving northeastwards through NJ towards NYC, LI and Connecticut. Precipitation totals will remain relatively light and rainfall is expected to be relatively non-eventful. Still, wet roads and dreary conditions are anticipated.

 

This disturbance shifts east/northeastwards during the evening hours on Friday and into Saturday as a very weak nose of high pressure builds back into the area. Meanwhile, back to the southwest of our area, a more significant storm system will be organizing. While Saturday and the first half of Sunday look warmer than normal and dry, the focus will turn to that developing storm by Sunday afternoon.

Forecast models suggest the potential for an impactful storm from later Sunday through Monday as a strong low pressure forms along the East Coast. The potential exists for significant rain and strong coastal winds — but the details remain somewhat uncertain (track, intensity, etc) at this time.

Further updates are scheduled for this morning with the latest information on the storm system.