Capital Weather Gang from The Washington Post

Daily forecast for the Washington area

D.C. area forecast: Mild 70s today; Friday brings summery temps but showers

TODAY’S DAILY DIGIT
A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10.

9/10: While a shower could bring a late day glower, it is unlikely to overpower the beauty of the day and gardens in flower.

EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Increasing clouds, shower possible late. Highs: 70-74
Tonight: Scattered showers, breezy. Lows: 58-62
Tomorrow: Breezy, showers and possible t-storm. Highs: 76-80

FORECAST IN DETAIL

Today works reasonably well with the old adage of March going out like a lamb but I fear there is a lion in pursuit for at least the first week or so of April. A windswept high of 80 is well within our reach Friday but we crash back to downright chilly temps by Sunday when we’re finally clear of shower chances. A freeze is a concern for areas outside the city by Monday.

Today (Thursday): The sun is likely to hold the upper hand much of the morning but clouds slowly increase through the afternoon. A stray shower is possible by late afternoon but most commuters are unlikely to suffer significant setbacks, from the weather at least. Highs reach the mild low 70s in much of the region, though it’s breezy with winds from the south of 15-25 mph. Confidence: Medium-High

Tonight: Showers become somewhat more numerous as the evening progresses but remain scattered and intermittent through the night rather than widespread. Rains generally just amount to a tenth of an inch or less. Breezes are still going strong from the south overnight keeping lows from falling any farther than upper 50s to lower 60s which is a nice treat. Confidence: Medium-High

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates. For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend…

Tomorrow (Friday): Strong southerly winds gusting to 35 mph will be attention getting as will highs well up into 70s. Some areas could even hit the 80 degree mark if showers remain sparse. A rumble of thunder is possible around midday as the cold front approaches but for most areas the showers pass gently. Confidence: Medium

Tomorrow night: The showers should begin to thin out in the evening but a few spotty showers still can not be ruled out through the night. Lows range from the upper 40s to mid-50s. Confidence: Medium-High

Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, March 26, 2016. (Erin via Flickr)

A LOOK AHEAD

The cold front struggles to push clear of the area on Saturday. As a result another area of low pressure coming up along the front from the south could (30 percent chance) still spread showers across the area, mainly in the morning. This puts a cap on highs with most areas only in the mid-50s to lower 60s. We may see some drying in the afternoon before the real cold front comes blasting into the area at night, when another brief shower is possible. Overnight lows slump to the lower 30s northwest of the city to the lower 40s downtown. Confidence: Medium

Sunshine finally returns on Sunday but highs do no better than lower 50s. At least the strong northwesterly winds gradually ease during the day and calm overnight. That calming allows for a very chilly, clear night with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s in the suburbs. The city should hold in the mid-30s but if you have set out plants you may want to bring them in to be safe. Confidence: Medium

Monday hangs on to sunshine much of the day but cool air lingers with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Confidence: Medium-High

Recommended for you

Going Out Guide

What to do and where to go in the Washington area, in your inbox twice a week.