Wednesday is shaping up to be a stormy, rainy day. Low pressure center currently located over Nebraska and Oklahoma will slide to the northeast into the Ohio valley while continuing to strengthen.

Current forecasts point to the storm center tracking just north of the NYC area. This should ensure that most of the region receives all rain for this storm. As the storm center draws closer, a nearly stationary frontal boundary will slowly push through to just north of the NYC area. This will allow the area to be entrenched in the warm sector, this means temperatures will stay relatively mild with highs in the mid-50s. It also raises the possibility for some weak thunderstorms in the afternoon hours as the cold front trailing the storm center pushes through.

In fact, the Storm Prediction Center has placed the DC-PHL metro areas as well as parts of southern Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, Maryland (see diagram below) under a slight risk for severe thunderstorms. The same cold front could trigger stronger storms down to the south due to the likelihood of warmer temperatures, more unstable air, and favorable conditions for thunderstorm initiation.

Behind the cold front, temperatures will plummet during the evening and overnight hours. The departing low will continue to strengthen into Thursday, with increasing northwest winds ushering in this colder air as well as a chance for snow showers (negligible accumulation expected). Highs will only barely hit the mid-20s.

Conditions will improve later in Thursday and Friday as an area of high pressure moves over the region. Temps will climb back into the low 40s Friday just below average, and rise to near 50 Saturday. Next chance of significant precipitation looks to be Sunday into Sunday night – with the potential for a snow storm!