John_Heyman's Blog

Our first heat wave of the season deliovered high temperatures in the low to mid 90's along with very high humidity. Heat indices over the past two days have been hovering near 100 for much of the afternoon. Actual temperatures will be slightly lower today with increased cloud cover, however, it will feel just as hot as dewpoints are near 70 degrees.

A cold front will sweep through the area late this afternoon breaking the back of the heat wave. As it does so, it will bring some very heavy thunderstorms, so keep an eye to the sky and take shelter when you see the storms heading your way!!

Thursday:  Morning temperatures in the 70's will quickly rise and we'll already be approaching 90 degrees by noon. Hazy sun will mix with clouds from time to time and there will be a risk of a thunderstorm at any time today. The storms will be scattered in nature this morning and early afternoon. A line of widespread showers and thunderstorms will then move through the tri-state as the cold front sweeps through the area. That line of storms will hit northern and western suburbs during the early afternoon hours. It will then progress southeastward and hit the city during the mid to late afternoon hours. It will then finally reach southern and eastern suburbs by late afternoon or early evening.

Friday:  Cooler and less humid air will move into the area behind the front so we'll wake up to temperatures in the low to mid 60's on Friday morning. But the news isn't all good for Friday morning as clouds and a few showers will also linger behind the front. Most of the showers will be south of the city and they will exit by afternoon as the front continues its journey south. The clouds will gradually break for increasing sunshine during the afternoon as a cool northerly breeze continues to bring drier air into the region. Highs on Friday will top out in the upper 70's which will be about a 15 degree drop!

Saturday:  We'll really feel the effects of the cooler air mass on Saturday morning. Temperatures will start out in the 50's and 60's across the area under mostly sunny skies. The cool temperatures will gradually rise under the strong summer sun and we'll hit the upper 70's to low 80's for highs during the afternoon. A reinforcing shot of cool air will arrive Saturday evening keeping us in a gorgeous weather pattern.

Sunday:  Sunday will be very close to a carbon copy of Saturday. Morning temperatures in the 50's and 60's will gradually rise under mostly sunny skies. You will feel a slightly stronger northeasterly wind and that wind will act to keep temperatures down just slightly as highs remain in the mid to upper 70's.

Monday:  Monday morning will be the coolest morning during the stretch of gorgeous weather as high pressure will move right over the area Sunday night. Clear skies and light winds will then allow temperatures to fall into the 50's across most of the area by Monday morning. We'll then turn the corner and start warming up again as sunny skies and light winds allow our highs to approach 80 degrees again.

This is it, the time of year we wait for, summer arrives Thursday at 2:06 PM!! We struggle through a long winter here in the tri-state to enjoy a rather short period of gorgeous weather we know as summer. And when it gets here, we hope to enjoy plenty of sun, warm temperatures, and comfortable humidity levels. You asked for it, you'll get it over the next five days!!! A fast moving pattern in the jet stream will bring a series of cold fronts and reinforcing shots of dry air. And with the comfortable humidity levels will come plenty of sun and warm temperatures.

Wednesday:   The strong thunderstorms that affected the area overnight have all moved offshore. We're left with clouds, a few light showers, and muggy conditions this morning as a cold front is making its way through the tri-state area. That cold front will carry the showers out of the area by late morning and the clouds will follow shortly after allowing increasing sunshine by early afternoon. Under plenty of sunshine this afternoon, temperatures will reach the lower 80's as a refreshing northwesterly breeze brings drier air back into the region. Then, with the dry air in place under clear skies, we'll enjoy a comfortably cool night tonight with temperatures falling into the 50's in most suburbs.

Thursday:  We'll wake up to a comfortably cool morning on Thursday with temperatures ranging from the low 50's in the suburbs to the low 60's in the city. With comfortable humidity levels and mostly sunny skies, temperatures will climb into the low to mid 80's Thursday afternoon before a secondary cold front moves into the area toward evening. At that time, a few widely scattered thunderstorms will be possible. Summer arrives at 2:06 PM!!!!

Friday:   Behind the cold front on Friday, we'll get a reinforcing shot of dry air out of southern Canada that will bring humidity levels way down. Temperatures will start out on a cool note before rising into the lower 80's during the afternoon. Sunshine will dominate the sky as the refreshing northwesterly wind continues to keep things pleasant. Watch for a very cool night Friday night with dry air, light winds, and clear skies in place. Northwestern suburbs could drop into the 40's!!

Saturday:   Saturday will be another stellar summer day with a cool start followed by a comfortably warm afternoon as humidity levels remain low. Morning temperatures in the 50's will be followed by afternoon highs in the low 80's. Morning sun will mix with a few afternoon clouds as another cold front moves toward our area. The front will bring with it a risk of scattered thunderstorms from Saturday evening through early Sunday morning.

Sunday:   Morning clouds will give way to increasing sunshine on Sunday as yet another shot of dry air moves into the northeast out of southern Canada. The dry air will keep the string of gorgeous summer weather going as we enjoy comfortably warm temperatures in the low to mid 80's along with a refreshing northwesterly breeze and plenty of sun.

The large storm that has been sitting east of Cape Cod over the past several days is continuing to affect our weather early this week. That storm will meander over the western Atlantic before it finally gets the boot and begins to move out to sea on Thursday. Before that time, expect the variable weather to continue with showers and thunderstorms keeping us wet from time to time. After that time, we'll see improving weather and warmer temperatures.

Tuesday:  Tuesday will start off on a mild, humid note under a mix of sun and clouds. Morning temperatures in the mid to upper 60's will rise into the low to mid 80's by early afternoon with the help of the strong June sun. At that time, the warm, humid air near the surface will destabilize the atmosphere and scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop. Some of the storms could be strong with heavy rain and gusty winds. The scattered thunderstorms will last into the first half of the night before they dissipate.

Wednesday:  The storm over the Atlantic will actually move west toward the coast as we head into Wednesday. With the storm moving closer to our area, our wind will increase out of the northeast bringing with it cooler air. Morning temperatures in the lower 60's will only rise about ten degrees or so into the mid 70's for highs. Along with the cooler air will come more stability which will cut our chance for showers down a bit. There will still be a chance of showers and a few thunderstorms, however, mainly during the afternoon.

Thursday:   High pressure will slowly build into our area from the north on Thursday and bring an end to the unsettled weather. Leftover clouds along with a few sprinkles in the morning will dissipate allowing an increase in sunshine during the afternoon. Our cool northeasterly wind flow will continue, however, as the low pressure heads slowly out to sea. Morning lows in the 50's will be followed by afternoon highs in the mid 70's.

Friday:    High pressure will move south right over the tri-state on Friday providing us with a mostly sunny day. Cool morning temperatures in the 50's will quickly rebound into the upper 70's to low 80's as we see a return to a warm southwesterly wind.

Saturday:   The warming trend will continue into Saturday as high pressure sets up shop just east of the Carolinas. As it does so, the southwesterly wind flow will continue to bring warmer, more humid air to the tri-state. Under plenty of sunshine, highs will reach the mid to perhaps upper 80's across the area.

Early next week: Watch for a hot couple of days early week next week. Parts of the area could approach or exceed 90 degrees from Monday through Wednesday!!

Tuesday: Patchy fog from Monday night will last into Tuesday morning making it a tricky commute in some areas. The fog will quickly burn off during the morning as the strong June sun goes to work. We'll then enjoy a mix of sun and clouds for the afternoon as our temperatures quickly rise into the low to mid 80's across the area. It will feel a bit warmer than that with all the humidity in the air. Coastal locations will be a bit cooler as a seabreeze keeps highs in the 70's. Scattered thunderstorms will then dot the area tomorrow afternoon and evening as a cold front moves into the area from the northwest. Behind the front Tuesday night, a refreshing northwesterly breeze will bring in much drier air giving us a comfortably cool night.

Wednesday: We'll wake up to a clear, crisp, cool morning on Wednesday. Temperatures will start out in the 40's in northern and western suburbs and in the 50's in the city and coastal locations. Under sunny skies, temperatures will reach a comfortably warm range in the mid to upper 70's during the afternoon. A light northwesterly breeze will continue to bring dry air into the region through the day.

Thursday: Thursday will be nearly a carbon copy of Wednesday. We'll enjoy a cool, crisp morning followed by a comfortably warm afternoon with high temperatures in the upper 70's. One subtle difference will be a few high clouds that will share the sky with the sun as a warm front passes by to our northwest. One other difference will be a shift in our wind to a southerly direction which will have implications for Friday.

Friday: Friday will bring a return to warm and slightly more humid weather. We'll start out slightly milder with morning temperatures in the 50's and 60's across the area. Under a mix of sun and clouds, temperatures will reach the low to mid 80's for afternoon highs as a southwest wind brings in warmer air. Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms will return to the forecast on Friday as another cold front moves into the area from the northwest.

Tuesday: With the clear skies and light winds Monday night, temperatures will fall into the 40's across most of the tri-state leading to another cool morning on Tuesday. With sunny skies continuing, temperatures will once again rise to seasonable levels in the upper 60's to low 70's. Along the coast, a seabreeze will keep temperatures in the mid 60's.

Wednesday: On Wednesday, high pressure will move off the east coast allowing a warm front to move north of our area. The warm front will spread a few high clouds into our area while shifting our wind to a southwesterly direction. Warmer air will then slowly move into the tri-state through Wednesday afternoon as our highs reach the mid to upper 70's. A seabreeze will once again keep coastal locations in the upper 60's.

Thursday: The southwesterly wind will keep temperatures up a bit Wednesday night giving us a mild start to Thursday. Morning temperatures in the 50's and low 60's will rise rapidly under mostly sunny skies. A westerly wind will continue to pump warm air into the region allowing temperatures to reach the low to mid 80's Thursday afternoon. Even coastal areas will warm up into the 70's as the westerly wind will block any significant seabreeze.

Friday: Friday will be a warm one from start to finish. The continuing westerly wind will bring the heart of the warm airmass right over the tri-state. We'll start the day in the low to mid 60's and end up in the mid to upper 80's under plenty of sunshine. Humidity levels will also come up a bit on Friday making it feel even warmer. Right along the coast, highs will be limited to near 80 degrees. There will be a slight risk of an afternoon thunderstorm as a weak cold front approaches from the northwest.

It's hard to believe we're in late spring already and summer's right around the corner. We've been experiencing some gorgeous spring weather of late with some summer-like conditions sprinkled in, just what you would hope for and expect this time of year.

This week will be no exception as the gorgeous weather will continue with plenty of sunshine. Temperatures will also cooperate and allow us to enjoy typical late spring conditions with some summer conditions thrown in for good measure.

Monday:  After a chilly start with some patchy frost in northern suburbs, we'll enjoy a fantastic spring day to start off the work week. High pressure has planted itself just to our west and has brought with it some delightfully dry and clear air. Bright sunshine will go to work and bring our temperatures up rather quickly as we head through the morning. Temperatures will top out in the upper 60's to low 70's across the area this afternoon with a bit of a gusty southwesterly wind developing. A few clouds will arrive late and a sprinkle or shower will be possible tonight well north of the city as a warm front slides north of our area.

Tuesday:  Tuesday will start off a bit milder as warmer air begins to flow into the area behind the warm front. Morning temperatures will be in the 50's in most suburbs and near 60 in the city. Under plenty of sun once again, temperatures will respond and climb steadily through the 70's. Afternoon highs will top out in the low 80's across most of the area while parts of interior New Jersey reach the mid 80's. It will be quite breezy on Tuesday as a southwesterly wind reaches speeds of 15 to 25 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH. Watch for cooler temperatures right along the coast as a seabreeze keeps highs in the 60's and 70's.

Wednesday:  Wednesday morning will be a warm one as the southwesterly wind will not allow temperatures to drop very far Tuesday night. Early temperatures will be near 60 in most suburbs and near 70 in the city. Clouds will be on the increase, but with the warm start temperatures will still reach the lower 80's with moderate humidity levels. Thundestorms will become likely as a cold front moves into the area, especially during the afternoon. Some of the storms could get quite strong with heavy rain and gusty wind. The front will then move offshore Wednesday evening allowing clearing skies Wednesday night.

Thursday:  Behind the cold front on Thursday, we'll see a return to dry, cool Canadian air and more typical spring conditions. Under a mix of sun and clouds, temperatures will range from the 40's and 50's in the morning to the upper 60's and low 70's in the afternoon.

Friday:   We'll end the work week just as we started it. We'll see a cool, crisp morning followed by a mild afternoon with high temperatures in the upper 60's to low 70's, right where they should be this time of year. Plenty of sun and a refreshing northerly breeze will continue to keep things pleasant.

The cool shot of air that arrived Saturday night is right over us this morning as we're waking up to some chilly temperatures. Most suburbs dropped into the 30's overnight and there is even some patchy frost north and west of the city. The cool air mass will quickly moderate today, however, as the strong May sun goes to work. High pressure is still in complete control of our weather and will give us another beautiful week of spring weather.

The one difference this week will be the location of the high pressure. Last week and over the weekend, the high pressure was anchored to our north giving us a cool, dry northerly wind. The cool, dry air allowed clear, crisp nights followed by sunny, mild days. Later today and tomorrow, the high pressure will finally slip to our south giving us a warmer, more humid southerly wind. The result for the rest of the week will be will still be the same in the sky department as plenty of sun will continue. Temperatures, however, will slowly rise along with humidity, giving us warmer days and mild nights.

Monday:  After a chilly start, we'll see a comfortably mild afternoon as the bright May sunshine goes to work. Temperatures will top out in the mid to upper 60's across the area with the warmest locations topping out in the low 70's. If you favor the cool nights, make sure you enjoy tonight. We'll see one more chilly night as the clear skies and light wind allow radiational cooling.

Tuesday:  Tuesday morning will be another chilly one, but it will be about five degrees warmer than Monday morning. Most suburbs will start out in the upper 30's before sunny skies once again go to work. With the warmer southwesterly wind in play, temperatures will steadily climb into the afternoon. High temperatures will reach the mid 70's across much of the area.  Watch for a seabreeze to keep temperatures in the 60's along the coast.

Wednesday:  We'll tack on another 5-10 degrees for Wednesday morning's temperatures across the area as the southerly wind will keep temperatures up a bit Tuesday night. Temperatures will start out in the 40's and low 50's which will be a good launching pad for a warm day. Under plenty of sun, much of the area could approach or hit 80 degrees as the warm, southwesterly wind continues.  Inland areas could hit the low 80's while coastal areas struggle to reach 70. Humidity levels will also creep up a bit on Wednesday making it feel even warmer.

Thursday:   Thursday will be a warm day from start to finish. Because of the higher humidity and southwesterly wind, temperatures Wednesday night will not fall below 60 degrees in the city. With a warm start and hazy sun, temperatures will rise quickly into the 70's by early afternoon. Inland areas will continue to rise into the low 80's. Moderate humidity levels will combine with the warmth making it feel more like early summer.  A seabreeze will limit temperatures near the coast, however, keeping highs in the 70's.

Friday:  Friday will be a repeat performance of Thursday. It will be warm and humid with a mix of hazy sun and clouds. High temperatures will range from the lower 80's inland to the upper 60's along the coast. A weak cold front will approach the area late Friday. This cold front could touch off a few showers or thunderstorms late in the afternoon or evening so keep your eye on the forecast.

It's fairly typical around here to have winter hold on for a lot longer than it should climatologically. It's very typical to have winter hold on for a lot longer than we would like it to. And then, once it loses its grip, BAM!!! 90 degree temperatures and heat waves hit the area out of nowhere prompting everyone to say, "what ever happened to spring? It just went from winter to summer!"

Well consider yourself lucky if you're a spring-lover. This week will be filled with weather typical of spring, especially in the temperature department. We'll also see plenty of spring sun along with a few spring showers. The following is the five day forecast with plenty of attention to detail.

Monday:  We're waking up to a few passing showers this morning. The key word here is "passing" as a fast moving frontal system is responsible for the showers. In its wake, we'll enjoy increasing sunshine and warm temperatures with a nice, dry northwesterly wind. The wind could get strong this afternoon with gusts exceeding 30MPH. The wind will do little to stop temperatures from rising as the strong April sun goes to work. We'll see high temperatures reach the mid 70's this afternoon , which is ten degrees above normal.

Tuesday:  We'll start the day off with a mix of sun and clouds early. The sun will steadily fade out during the late morning and early afternoon as another fast-moving system heads our way out of the Great Lakes. Under the increasing cloud cover, temperatures will be held in the low to mid 60's. Showers will develop during the afternoon and become more numerous as we head into the evening and overnight. The rain could get briefly heavy Tuesday night, but will be short-lived as the storm system moves quickly to our south and east.

Wednesday:  A few showers or sprinkles may linger into Wednesday morning as the storm system quickly heads out to sea south and east of our area. High pressure will then build in for the afternoon and dry us out. The clouds will begin to break for sun by late morning and we'll see plenty of sun during the afternoon. A nice northwesterly breeze will bring plenty of dry air out of Canada and keep temperatures at a seasonable level. Morning temperatures will be in the upper 40's followed by afternoon highs in the mid to upper 60's.

Thursday:  Thursday will be a beauty with plenty of sunshine and seasonable spring temperatures. A nice, crisp morning with temperatures in the upper 40's will be followed by a bright and mild afternoon with high temperatures in the mid to upper 60's. A light northerly breeze will continue to bring dry air into the region.

Friday:   The spring weather will continue right into Friday. A weak cold front will knock temperatures down just slightly, but do little in terms of weather. Sunshine will still dominate the sky with morning temperatures in the mid 40's followed by a mild afternoon in the mid 60's. Again, right where we should be this time of year.

Hopefully everyone got out and enjoyed the absolutely stunning weather this weekend. We were blessed with sunny skies and high temperatures in the 70's Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The great weather has carried over into the work week and today will be our warmest day of the season so far. Tomorrow will make it 5 straight days of mostly sunny skies after the post easter nor'easter gave us five straight days of clouds and rain.

Another streak of inclement weather will replace the streak of nice weather we've been experiencing by mid-week. A frontal system will move into the area on Wednesday and stall just to our south. On the north side of the front, we'll see a return to the damp northeasterly breeze which will bring plenty of clouds and areas of rain. So enjoy Monday and Tuesday as the rest of the week will be mostly cloudy. The following is a detailed breakdown of the five days ahead.

Monday:  Monday will be mostly sunny, breezy, and warm. High pressure has slipped just to our south giving us a warm southwesterly wind. The wind will get quite gusty this afternoon as temperatures rise into the lower 80's across the region. Central Park has not officially hit 80 degrees since September 19, 2006. So, as long as temperatures rise according to plan, today will be the first day in 7 months that NYC has hit 80 degrees. South-facing shores on Long Island and Connecticut will be a bit cooler today as highs will be limited to the upper 60's to low 70's. A weak cold front will move into the region tonight spreading clouds and a few sprinkles across the region.

Tuesday:  Any clouds or sprinkles Monday night will exit by daybreak on Tuesday setting us up for another gorgeous day. We'll be slightly cooler behind the front on Tuesday, but temperatures will still rise into the mid 70's during the afternoon. Even the coastline will warm up on Tuesday as a northwesterly wind won't allow a seabreeze to develop.

Wednesday:   There may be some sun early on Wednesday. Clouds will be on the increase, however, and rain will develop during the afternoon. Temperatures Wednesday afternoon will take close to a 30 degree drop from Monday's high due to the clouds and a northeasterly wind. The rain may be briefly heavy late on Wednesday, but only a light to moderate amount of rain is expected from this system.

Thursday:   The cloudy, dreary weather will continue into Thursday as a frontal system remains stalled to our south. The northeasterly wind on the north side of the front will bring lots of clouds and areas of fog and drizzle to the region. The rain will be periodic in nature as weak areas of low pressure ride along the front. Some sun could break out Thursday afternoon if there is a long enough break between disturbances. Temperatures will top out in the upper 50's.

Friday:  More northeasterly wind for Friday will bring more clouds and areas of fog and drizzle. Periodic light rain will continue as weak disturbances glide by along the stationary front to our south. Again, if there is enough room between low pressures, some sun could peek through the clouds Friday afternoon. The cool temperatures will continue as temperatures are held in the upper 50's.

The post Easter nor'easter walloped the area earlier this week with 50 MPH winds and as much as 9" of rain. Widesread major flooding occurred across the area and some rivers are still running way above their banks. Fortunately, the storm is pulling away. Unfortunately, the storm is pulling away at a snail's pace and areas of drizzle continue to block the sun and keep things damp.

When will the clouds finally break for a significant amount of sunshine?  I'll break down the next five days and give you the answer to that question so you can make your plans to wrap up the work week and head into the weekend.

Wednesday:   Today will be very similar to yesterday. A gusty northeasterly wind continues to bring plenty of low clouds and chilly air to the region. These low clouds are generally rain-free, but there still are some areas of drizzle and scattered sprinkles. As the day goes on, a few peeks of sun may break through the clouds from time to time. The sun will do little to help our temperatures which will be stuck in the upper 40's. As we head into the evening and the sun gets lower in the sky, the clouds will thicken up a bit and areas of drizzle will form again tonight.

Thursday:   Another dreary day is on tap for Thursday. Morning light rain and drizzle will be slow to end and could last into the early afternoon. As the sun gets higher in the sky, it will act to thin the clouds out a bit and a few peeks of sun will be possible again during the afternoon. A gusty northeasterly wind will finally subside a bit tomorrow afternoon. It will still be strong enough to keep our high temperatures in the upper 40's once again. And like the day before, the clouds will thicken up a bit during the evening allowing areas of drizzle to re-develop for the overnight.

Friday:   Friday will finally bring an end to the dreary weather!! There will still be plenty of clouds and even some patchy drizzle during the early morning. The difference for Friday will be the lack of a strong northeasterly breeze. Without this moist breeze, the sun will be able to go to work and burn the clouds off. The exact time the sun breaks out will be a bit difficult to forecast, but I think we'll see mostly sunny skies by noon. Our temperatures will respond to the sun and we'll see highs in the mid to upper 50's. Some areas could even reach 60 degrees.

Saturday:   Saturday will be the pick of the week. We'll see wall to wall sunshine, mild temperatures, and a light northerly breeze. High temperatures will finally hit seasonable levels as we top out in the mid 60's. With a little luck, we could easily make a run for 70 in some areas.

Sunday:   Sunday will be another beauty. Plenty of sun and mild temperatures will continue. Exactly how warm we get will depend on the wind. It appears the wind will be very light which will allow temperatures to rise quickly. Unfortunately, a light wind will also allow a sea breeze to develop and limit high temperatures. Inland areas could reach the upper 60's to low 70's. Coastal areas will be limited to the upper 50's to low 60's.

OK folks, I normally take the weekends off, but this storm will be an exceptional one and requires a little OT blogging. I'm going to give my best effort to break down the storm for all of my fellow Fox 5 bloggers.

The rain will arrive late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. By the time most of us wake up Sunday morning, it will be raining steadily and heavily. The heaviest rain with this storm will fall from Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. As much as 2"-3" of rain could fall across the region by Sunday evening. Northeast winds will pummel the region as well with gusts as high as 50 MPH. The northeasterly wind will pile the Atlantic waters up along the coast causing significant coastal flooding at the times of high tide. Huge waves on top of the storm surge will batter the coast and lead to major beach erosion as well. Suffice to say, Sunday will be the worst day of this storm.

What the storm does Sunday evening will have a huge effect on our weather for Monday into Tuesday. At this point, it appears that the storm will move just to our north into Massachussettes and stall. If this scenario holds true, the worst of the storm will be over. If the storm is to our north, we will have a northwesterly wind which will be quite chilly but relatively dry. The northwesterly wind will continue to bring clouds and a few showers or snow showers, but no steady rain. The northwesterly wind will also blow the Atlantic waters out to sea ending the threat for coastal flooding and major beach erosion.

However, if the storm stalls just to our south and east, the northeasterly wind will continue to wreak havoc on the region. Plenty of Atlantic moisture will continue to stream in causing periods of light rain and drizzle to continue on a steady basis. A persistent northeasterly wind will also continue to pile the Atlantic waters up along the coast causing major coastal flooding and beach erosion. And these problems will be slow to remedy themselves if the storm slowly drifts out to sea to our south and east. The wind, rain, and coastal flooding could last into Tuesday or even Wednesday if this scenario holds true.

Where this storm stalls and our resulting wind direction will be everything with this storm. As long as the storm gets to our north before running out of steam, it will be a one day event with lingering wind and a few showers. If it runs out of steam before reaching us, we could see coastal flooding and beach erosion of historic proportions. So remember, a northwest wind is good. The northeast wind is the killer.

What a chilly weekend we had!! Easter was colder and had more snow than Christmas!! The storm that brought us the wind driven rain on Wednesday intensified as it headed into southeastern Canada last week. It then proceeded to run out of steam and made its home just north of Maine for the better part of a week. Unfortunately for spring-lovers, we were on the cold side of this storm and a persistent northwesterly wind has been bringing us cold air and even a few snow showers.

Well, that storm is finally lifting northward which will allow us to ease out of the cold pattern and move into a more typical early spring pattern. This changing of the guard will bring us another variable week in the weather department. This time, however, we'll start the week off on the chilly side and end it on the milder side. The following is a detailed breakdown of the weather for the week ahead.

Monday:   The cold northwesterly wind that has kept high temperatures in the low to mid 40's over the past four days is still hanging tough this morning. We're starting off with temperatures in the low to mid 30's and wind chills in the 20's. Fortunately, the wind has eased just a bit as the storm in southeastern Canada is slowly drifting north. This will allow our temperatures to rise an extra five degrees or so this afternoon with quite a bit more sunshine. It will still be a bit breezy, however, with wind gusts exceeding 20 MPH. A mix of sun and clouds with a high in the upper 40's will actually feel mild after a five day stretch that did not  see temperatures exceed 44 degrees.

Tuesday:   The northwesterly wind will be much less of an issue tomorrow as wind gusts will only be in the 10-15 MPH range. We'll start the day off in the mid 30's and temperatures will finally top the 50 degree mark again. High temperatures will reach the low to mid 50's with plenty of sunshine.

Wednesday:   The good news for Wednesday is that the cold northwesterly wind will finally end. The bad news is that an easterly wind off the 42 degree ocean will replace it and keep things cool. High temperatures will be in the upper 40's to low 50's. The news will also be mixed in the sky department on Wednesday. We'll start off with sunny skies, but clouds will gradually increase during the afternoon. Rain will then develop during the evening and continue into the overnight. North and west of the city, we'll be taliking an icy mix once again keeping the winter theme alive.

Thursday:  Thursday will be the washout of the week as the clouds hang tough and the rain continues. North and west of town will be rather wintry as an icy mix could continue right into Thursday afternoon depending on the storm's track. Near the coast it will be a cold rain as high temperatures struggle to reach the upper 40's. It's a long shot at this point, but we'll see if the storm exits quickly enough to allow some peeks of sun late Thursday.

Friday:   We'll end the week with a nice Friday. Residual clouds could linger into Friday morning, but the sun will break out by afternoon and temperatures will respond. With a light wind, we'll see afternoon high temperatures in the mid to perhaps upper 50's.

The string of beautiful weather we experienced last week came to an end on Sunday as clouds and showers returned to the tri-state area. This week will have its share of nice weather, but we'll also have to deal with some inclement weather. The best word to describe this week's weather is variable. The following detailed account of the next five days shows just how variable this first week of April will be.

Monday:   Today in itself will be a variable day. Cool temperatures along with clouds, fog, and a few isolated showers will make it a damp and dreary morning. The clouds and showers will gradually end, however, and sunshine will begin to break through the clouds by late morning. By this afternoon, the clouds will share the sky with plenty of sun and temperatures will rapidly climb into the 60's. Interior sections of the area could even approach 70 degrees. Near the coast, a light breeze off the ocean will allow patchy fog to hang on through much of the day. As a result, coastal areas will be much cooler and will only reach the mid 50's.

Tuesday:    The mild weather will continue on Tuesday as temperatures will reach the lower 60's across much of the area. Plenty of sunshine will combine with the mild temperatures to make it a gorgeous day. The variable theme will come to play during the afternoon, however, as clouds return and gradually thicken. Showers and even a few thunderstorms will then arrive during the evening as a southeasterly wind picks up.

Wednesday:   Wednesday will be the washout of the week as the rain and wind continue. The gusty southeasterly wind will be a chiily, damp breeze as it will be coming in from the 42 degree ocean. The rain could be heavy at times as a strong cold front wrings out the Atlantic moisture over the northeast. The cold front will cross the area by late afternoon or evening bringing an end to the rain. The dry wind behind the front will also be quite chilly, so be ready to bundle up Wednesday night!

Thursday:   Thursday will bring a return to sunshine, but a cold breeze will also bring a return to late winter. We'll start the day off in the 30's with wind chills in the 20's. High temperatures will struggle to reach the mid to upper 40's as a strong northwesterly wind brings plenty of cold air down from Canada.

Friday:    Friday will be another cold one as we'll see temperatures in the 20's to low 30's across the area during the morning. Most areas will be below freezing during the morning with a moderate breeze making it feel more like the teens and low 20's. Temperatures will struggle again into the mid 40's under a mix of sun and clouds. This chilly pattern looks like it will take hold of the area right through the weekend into early next week.

It was hard to believe spring officially arrived last week, especially with the Saint Patty's Day snow and ice storm fresh in our minds. Waking up the the first full day of spring to temperatures in the teens and 20's did little to convince anyone otherwise. However, by week's end, temperatures soared into the 60's bringing us back to the sweet reality that we've turned the corner and spring is here. This week will intensify spring fever across the tri-state area as the sun will dominate the sky and shake off any residual winter cobwebs.

The following is a detailed breakdown of the five days ahead:

Monday:  The phrase "Blue Monday" will ring true this week as Monday will be the gloomiest day of the week. We'll see some sun through the morning, but the clouds will thicken during the afternoon and scattered showers will begin to fall across the area. Monday will also be the coolest day of the week as the clouds and a breeze off the ocean keep temperatures in the upper 40's to low 50's. The scattered showers will continue into the night as a warm front crosses the area.

Tuesday:  As the warm front crosses the area Monday night, temperatures will actually begin to rise. As a result, we'll wake up to temperatures near 50 degrees Tuesday morning. Some clouds will linger into Tuesday morning, but the clouds will be quick to burn off by mid to late morning setting us up for the warmest day of the year so far. Temperatures will rapidly rise through the 60's and will top off in the lower to middle 70's during the afternoon. The warmest parts of the tri-state area could even reach the upper 70's. Even coastal areas will share in the warm air as a west to northwest breeze will squash any seabreeze. A weak cold front will cross the area during the late afternoon bringing with it little more than a few clouds.

Wednesday:   Wednesday will be another beauty as we'll see sunny skies and mild temperatures. It won't be quite as warm as Tuesday, but high temperatures in the lower 60's with a nice northerly breeze will make it quite pleasant. Wednesday will be absolutely gorgeous!!

Thursday:   The string of great weather will continue into Thursday. High temperatures Thursday will reach the mid to upper 50's, which is normal for this time of year. We'll see plenty of sun, but a weak system to our south may obscure the sun with a few high, thin clouds

Friday:   We'll close the week out on another sun-filled day. Friday will be almost a carbon copy of Thursday. Mostly sunny skies with high temperatures in the mid to upper 50's will give us a great start to the weekend.

After getting hit hard by sleet and snow last week, you'd think we were still firmly in winter's grip. Fortunately, winter will officially come to an end at 8:07 PM tomorrow and the weather will follow suit. We'll start the week off on a chilly note, but we'll end it on a mild one. The best news of all is that the arctic connection has finally broken down. The chilly temperatures that are with us early this week are the coldest we'll experience for the next 2-3 weeks!! The following is a breakdown of the next five days.

We'll start the week off on the chilly side. High temperatures on Monday will be limited to the low to mid 40's by afternoon cloud cover. There may even be some snow showers late Monday north and west of the city keeping the wintry theme alive.

The sun will return on Tuesday, but a fresh shot of cold air will keep it breezy and chilly. Temperatures will reach the low to mid 40's during the afternoon before plummeting into the 20's Tuesday night. Northern and western suburbs will see temperatures fall into the teens Tuesday night. It will still feel like winter at 8:07PM when spring officially arrives.

Wednesday will a variable one as we'll start the day off on a very cold note. Morning temperatures will be in the 20's in the city and in the 10's in the suburbs. We'll begin to crawl out of the cold pattern Wednesday afternoon, however, as winds swing around out of the south. Afternoon temperatures will again be in the low to mid 40's.

It will finally feel like spring on Thursday as a southwesterly wind pumps in plenty of mild air. Under a mix of sun and clouds, afternoon temperatures will soar well into the 50's. Parts of the area could even hit 60 degrees.

Friday looks like it will be the warmest day of the week. We're currently forecasting a mix of sun and clouds with afternoon temperatures reaching the low to mid 60's. We will, however, have to keep our eyes on a cold front that will be approaching our area from the northwest. At this point, it appears the cold front will stall to our northwest allowing a warm friday. If the front sinks further south than expected, cloud cover could increase and hold temperatures down slightly.