A Touch of Spring

Spring continues its sneak preview today. A low pressure system centered over Toledo this morning is pumping all sorts of warm, moist air our way. Most of the area will top out around 70 degrees this afternoon. Areas along the shore will be much cooler as conditions are ideal for a sea breeze. A sea breeze is a small circulation that sets up when ocean temperatures are much lower than those over land and if there are generally light winds. Under those conditions, a mini high pressure system forms over the water, a mini low forms over land and a breeze starts blowing toward the shore. The end result being near shore locations being ten degrees or so cooler than places only a mile or two inland.

Along with the spring warmth we'll also see a few pre-spring showers and possibly a thundershower. The chance of rain starts this afternoon, but precipitation is much more likely tonight and tomorrow. The heaviest rains look like they will happen tomorrow night.

The heavy rains will herald a sharp cooling as the cold front responsible for kicking off the showers finally sags to our south. Friday will be much cooler, with a high only in the mid-40s. The chance of rain continues on Friday and the rain is likely to switch over to snow Friday night into Saturday morning. The weekend is looking chilly. Looking ahead to the first day of spring, which is also when the hamburger stand that shan't be mentioned lest Gothamist raises the ire of certain readers re-opens, next Wednesday is looking sunny and on the cool side.