These are always the worst kind of spring forecasts. No, I’m not talking about the sea breeze and how it wreaks havoc on the temperature forecasts (although that can be nightmare in of itself). I’m talking about a wandering upper level low pressure system.
Hmph. Even sounds complex.
We’ve been wrestling with one over the last four days. First it was the clouds…and the attendant showers. But now that it’s a bit weaker, huge sunny gaps have opened up around it. Essentially, that’s how we made 60s in some spots today: several hours of sun and a favorable northwest wind to beat back the sea breeze.
But there are also cloudy spells and a few showers around these “wandering systems”. Timing these is critical, but it’s also a fool’s errand. There isn’t much data over the Maritime Provinces and the models can’t accurately time these weak impulses as they rotate counterclockwise into New England.
So, the end result is that I’m carpet bombing the 7 day forecast with clouds until we get out from under this wandering low and another system that scoots off the Mid Atlantic on Friday. The two are in cahoots to make certain April finishes on a cool note.
But May may see a turn in the tide. Warmer air festering in the Midwest makes a run at us to start the first weekend of the new month. We have summer on our mind in the extended range – all thanks to a ton of sun and a favorable setup in the upper atmosphere. Honestly, I’m not shy about hitting 80 early next week. Record highs in early May are in the low 90s, so 80 is practically child’s play.
It’s coming. Prepare for it.
Pete