It was a nice start to the day before very cold air aloft helped clouds bubble up any bit of midday warmth we could muster. Then came the showers and icy offerings from the somewhat ominous clouds. Highs in the mid-50s are almost 10 degrees below average for the date as our chilly spell persists. Not to mention that showers dropped temperatures to the upper 30s and low 40s in spots. Seasonably cool conditions rule the night before a similar day unfolds tomorrow.
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Through Tonight: The heaviest showers are shifting east, but a few additional ones can dot the area into evening. Skies will clear out quickly with sunset, and any showers end, leaving us mainly starry late tonight. Lows end up ranging from the upper 30s to low 40s.
View the current weather at The Washington Post.
Tomorrow (Friday): It’ll be at its sunniest early once again Friday. It will be similar to today, with a lower but nonzero chance of a shower. Highs end up in the mid-50s in most spots.
See David Streit’s forecast through the weekend. And if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For related traffic news, check out Gridlock.
Pollen update: One positive with all the rain lately is that it’s kept pollen at bay. The past 24-hour count was washed out, as they have been all month.
A taste of winter: Very cold air aloft prompted “convective” (think thunderstorms) showers this afternoon, some of which dropped graupel. Graupel — also called snow pellets — is small, soft frozen pellets made of snow rimed with ice. Like hail in a spring storm, if enough falls it can cause temperatures to dip significantly. CWG’s Dan Stillman reported a car thermometer reading of 37 degrees in a graupel shower in Rockville this afternoon.
We have some serious accumulation here in Derwood! @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/J1T9Ai8QW2
— Jon Fisher-Espinoza (@JFisherEspinoza) April 4, 2024
@capitalweather hard frozen precip falling in Shady Grove rn pic.twitter.com/LvDE9GOTQ2
— AhabTheGamer (@the_ahab) April 4, 2024
Spring comeback: After a couple weeks of cooler weather, warmth is on the horizon. Most of next week should be in the 70s, and we could even rise to around 80 on a day or two. Prepare for a pollen comeback, as well — regionally dominant oaks are still on the way to peak.
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