Easter Weekend Forecast: Chilly with a touch of Rain/Snow Fri Night/Saturday. Chilly and dry for Easter and Monday.

Discussion:
8:00 AM
Friday 3/21/08

Another windy day is on tap today, as a strong storm system in the Canadian Maritimes moves slowly NE. The large cyclonic flow around this storm, will continue a strong NW flow of chilly air, and windy conditions for today. Winds of 15 to 25 Mph and gusts to near 40 Mph can be expected.

A weak area of low pressure will move into the lower Ohio Valley tonight, then east to the Delmarva Coast on Saturday as it weakens further. Cloudiness will spread into the area later today and this evening. As this system approaches, some light rain and wet snow will move in later tonight and continue into Saturday morning. Just enough cold air aloft and at the surface will allow for a period of wet snow towards Saturday AM. This could bring a Coating to 1" for areas North and West of PHL. In Southern NJ, and Northern DE, A coating is possible in some areas early Saturday morning. Skies will remain Mostly Cloudy with a few light showers during Saturday afternoon.

High Pressure will move back in for Sunday and into Monday. This will bring dry and colder weather for the Delaware Valley. Highs will be in the mid to Upper 40's both days, and lows in the Upper 20's to low 30's and breezy conditions. The big storm potential I talked about earlier this week, appears to be all but gone now for Monday into Tuesday.

A much stronger than expected Polar Vortex, will be positioned in SE Canada, along will an increased Pacific zonal flow. This setup will aid in flattening the flow and any possible amplification of an East coast trough during Monday. Therefore a weaker storm will develop well offshore and dash our last hopes for any snow in these parts. Winter is now over and Spring has officially arrived yesterday. Though we start out with below average temps, and chilly conditions for the next 3 to 5 days, a return to more seasonable and milder temperatures will arrive later next week, as we approach 60 by next Thursday and Friday.

My Weekend Forecast:
For The Delaware Valley Region.

Today:
M.Sunny and continued windy. Highs in the Upper 40's to low 50's. NW winds at 15 to 25 mph. Some gusts to near 40 mph can be expected.

Tonight:
Increasing Cloudiness this evening, then Cloudy with some light rain and wet snow after Overnight. A coating to 1" is possible for areas North and West of PHL. In SJ and Northern DE a Coating in some areas towards morning. Lows 30 to 35.

Saturday:
Cloudy in the morning with periods of wet snow early, changing to light rain. M.Cloudy with a few showers in the early afternoon. Colder with highs in the mid 40s. Gradual Clearing at night and chilly with lows in the low 30's.

Easter Sunday:
M.Sunny and Chilly with highs in the mid 40s. Fair and cold at night with lows in the Upper 20's to low 30's.

Monday:
P.Sunny during the morning, then Increasing Cloudiness during the afternoon. Highs in the mid to upper 40s.

Take Care and Happy Easter,
Ruggie