Warm and cloudy weather continues before a sharp cold blast this weekend
Mild temperatures linger through Saturday before storms, strong winds, and a dramatic temperature drop arrive Sunday night
Clouds and fog greet us again this morning
We’re waking up to another gloomy start across the region, with thick cloud cover hanging overhead and some patchy fog reducing visibility in spots. Despite the gray skies, temperatures are anything but cold. Most locations are starting the day in the low 60s, with a few cooler pockets still holding in the upper 50s. That fog should gradually lift through the morning as temperatures warm and winds turn slightly breezier out of the south.
Mild and breezy with a few isolated showers today
As we head through the day, temperatures will climb into the low to mid 60s, making for another unseasonably warm afternoon. Clouds will remain stubborn, and while today will not be a washout, a few isolated light showers are possible, mainly during the afternoon hours. Rain amounts will be very light, but it’s still a good idea to keep the rain gear nearby if you’re heading out.
Winds will also be noticeable today, with southwesterly gusts occasionally reaching 20 to 25 mph, adding to that mild, spring-like feel even though it’s late December.
Tonight stays mild and mostly cloudy
Heading into tonight, temperatures won’t drop much at all. Expect lows settling into the low 50s, which is well above normal for this time of year. Skies remain mostly cloudy, and while a stray shower can’t be ruled out early in the evening, things should trend drier overnight, setting us up for a quiet start to Saturday.
Saturday turns drier but stays cloudy and warm
Saturday looks like a calmer weather day overall. We’ll dry out, but cloud cover sticks around, keeping skies mostly overcast. Even with limited sunshine, temperatures will once again reach the mid 60s, continuing this stretch of unusually warm December weather.
Sunday brings a powerful change in the forecast
Changes arrive late Saturday night into Sunday as our next strong weather system moves in. Sunday will start mild, with highs reaching the upper 60s, but conditions will deteriorate as the day goes on. Showers and possibly a few storms become more likely, especially later Sunday and Sunday night, along with gusty winds as a strong cold front pushes through.
Once that front passes, temperatures will drop rapidly Sunday night, falling from the 60s down into the low 20s by Monday morning.
Winter makes a return Monday
By Monday morning, colder air will be firmly in place. Any lingering moisture could briefly mix with or change to snow flurries, though accumulation looks minimal at this time. High temperatures on Monday will struggle to reach the low 30s, and gusty northwest winds will make it feel even colder. From there, we stay locked into a cold pattern through the end of the year, with highs mainly in the 30s.
ABC 36 Weather Team: 36-hour forecast
Friday: Mostly cloudy and mild with highs in the low to mid 60s. Breezy at times with a chance for isolated light showers, mainly during the afternoon.
Friday night: Mostly cloudy and mild. Lows fall into the low 50s with any lingering showers ending early.
Saturday:
Another warm day for late December with highs in the mid to upper 60s. Mostly cloudy, breezy at times.
