Special Weather Discussion

Latest Weather Discussion by Kyle Elliott

* A Pleasant weekend followed by a "blowtorch" next week *

10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2026, Update:

Following Wednesday morning's widespread, hard freeze and Thursday morning's patchy frost, the week will wrap up on a noticeably warmer and more pleasant note today. South-southwesterly winds of 10-20 mph on the backside of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic have returned and will combine with mostly sunny skies to boost high temperatures into the mid-to-upper 60s across southeastern PA to mid 70s in areas west of Route 11/I-83 this afternoon (see below). Needless to say, it will certainly feel like spring again after this week's bout of unseasonably chilly conditions.

A weak cold front will sweep through the Commonwealth from northwest-to-southeast tonight, but most of the energy associated with it will pass through New York State and New England. The front will also be starved for moisture and move through northern MD, southeastern PA and the Lower Susquehanna Valley in the wee hours of the morning. Thus, only a brief shower or two should accompany its passage (see below). Due to the clouds and a light breeze, low temperatures tonight will be much higher than recent nights and in the upper 40s to mid 50s from north-to-south across the region.

Behind the front, north-northwesterly winds of 10-20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will direct slightly cooler and drier air into the region for the start of the weekend. However, it will still be an absolutely gorgeous Saturday with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s under sunny skies. A Canadian high pressure system will briefly settle over NY and PA Saturday night and promote mainly clear and chilly conditions with lows in the mid 30s (outlying areas) to low 40s (urban centers). Fortunately, minimum temperatures will be a few degrees too high for frost formation. The high pressure system will then shift into the western Atlantic on Sunday. On its backside, winds will turn south-southeasterly at 10-20 mph, and high temperatures will be similar to Saturday (mid 60s to perhaps 70°F in western areas) despite partial cloud cover (see below). Overall, the weather through the end of the weekend will be ideal for outdoor activities such as walking, running, hiking, biking, golfing or fishing. Get outside and enjoy!

Looking ahead into next week, I don't have much to add to Tuesday's discussion with regard to the "blowtorch" pattern and early taste of summer. A massive ridge, or northward bulge in the Jet Stream, will develop over the eastern United States in response to a deep trough, or dip in the Jet Stream, over western North America. Broad, southwesterly flow will strengthen and usher unseasonably warm air into the mid-Atlantic States from Monday-Thursday, and some record highs may even be challenged or broken on April 15th and 16th. A warm front will traverse the Commonwealth from southwest-to-northeast Sunday night, but no rain is expected across southeastern PA or the Lower Susquehanna Valley. Behind it, temperatures will be "off to the races" and soar into the upper 70s to perhaps low 80s on Monday, low-to-mid 80s on Tuesday, and mid-to-upper 80s both Wednesday and Thursday. Given enough sunshine, the first 90-degree day of the year is certainly a real possibility in spots next Wednesday and/or Thursday. This includes Millersville University, where the record highs of 87°F from 1941 and 90°F from 2002 may both be in jeopardy. Overnight lows from Monday night through at least Wednesday night will likely be in the 50s/60s and more typical of June than April. Some of you may even need to turn on the A.C. with temperatures around 20-25°F above average. A minor, upper-level disturbance or two may zip through New England and northern PA early in the week, so I won't rule out an isolated shower or two both Monday and Tuesday afternoons. However, most areas should remain rain-free through Thursday. A weak cold front may move through the mid-Atlantic States at the end of the week, but that's definitely not a guarantee at this distance. Check back Tuesday for an update! -- Elliott 

1:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026:

Easter Weekend kicked off on an unseasonably warm note with a record-tying high temperature of 83°F at Millersville University Saturday afternoon. A cold front then brought a widespread 0.40-0.80" of beneficial rain to the Lower Susquehanna Valley on Easter Sunday and ushered much cooler air back into the region. A large-scale pattern reconfiguration.. featuring a northward bulge in the Jet Stream over western North America and trough over eastern North America.. has led to a return of below-average temperatures early this week. Despite partial sunshine, high temperatures only reached the mid-to-upper 50s on Monday. A clipper-type disturbance then zipped through New England and northern PA last night, and a reinforcing shot of colder air has followed in its wake. Northwesterly winds of 12-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph will accompany high temperatures in the mid 40s north/west of I-81 to low 50s in the I-95 corridor this afternoon (see below). Despite plenty of sunshine, mid-level temperatures around 5,000 feet above the ground are simply too low for surface temperatures to get any higher. Wind chills will be in the 30s/40s this afternoon, so you'll certainly need a jacket, sweatshirt or winter coat before venturing outside. Keep a tight grip on the steering wheel, as well.

A Canadian high pressure system will settle smack dab over the Commonwealth tonight and provide the ideal setting for efficient, radiational cooling. Under clear skies and in the presence of very light winds and bone-dry air, temperatures will bottom out in the low-to-mid 20s early Wednesday morning. Due to recent bursts of warmth and an early start to the growing season, a Freeze Warning has been issued for northern MD, southeastern PA and the Susquehanna Valley from 12-9 AM (see below). Thus, it will be imperative to apply a protective covering over tender plants/vegetation or bring them inside this evening to prevent damage or their death. The near- to sub-freezing temperatures will also kill sensitive, early-blooming flowers like magnolias, cherry and Bradford pears.

Despite perfectly sunny skies, the Canadian high pressure system will still be centered along the mid-Atlantic coastline tomorrow. Thus, the unseasonably chilly air mass will remain in place, and high temperatures should not exceed the low 50s Wednesday afternoon. Fortunately, winds will be light and variable, so it won't feel as cold outside as today. However, temperatures will plunge into the mid-to-upper 20s again Wednesday night under mainly clear skies. Expect widespread frost early Thursday morning, and take the same precautions with tender vegetation again Wednesday evening (see below). Winds will then turn south-southeasterly by Thursday on the backside of the high pressure system, and the southerly flow should boost high temperatures back into the mid 50s to perhaps 60°F under mostly sunny skies. Thursday night will still be "chilly" in comparison to recent nights, but lows in the mid-to-upper 30s are completely normal in early-to-mid April. 

The warming trend will then ramp up on Friday, and the week should end on a partly-to-mostly sunny and pleasantly warm note with highs around 70°F. You'll be able to trade in the jackets and sweatshirts for shorts and t-shirts late this week, and lightweight clothing will then be the attire of choice through the middle of next week. A weak cold front may sag southward through the Commonwealth spanning Friday night to Saturday morning, but there won't be much energy or moisture associated with it. In addition, the air mass behind the front won't be much cooler than the one ahead of it, so high temperatures should still be in the 60s over the weekend. The front will likely press through northern MD and southeastern PA during the wee hours of the morning, and that will limit any precipitation to a brief shower or two. Clouds should give way to sun by the late-morning or early-afternoon hours on Saturday, and sunshine will then "rule the roost" during the second half of the weekend. Overnight lows will also be back in more comfortable territory this weekend and wind up near 50°F Friday night, around 40°F Saturday night and in the mid-to-upper 40s Sunday night.

"Real spring" will then arrive early next week. The large-scale weather pattern will undergo another major reconfiguration, but the massive, northward bulge in the Jet Stream will be over the eastern United States this time. Broad, southwesterly flow will usher unseasonably warm air into the mid-Atlantic States from Monday-Wednesday, and some record highs may even be challenged or broken during the middle of the week. A warm front will traverse the Commonwealth from southwest-to-northeast Sunday night, and temperatures should then be "off to the races" behind it. At this point, I expect highs to be in the upper 70s to perhaps 80°F on Monday and soar into the mid-to-upper 80s both Tuesday and Wednesday (see below).

The periphery of the ridge will be several hundred or more miles to our north, so I don't anticipate any showers or thunderstorms until Wednesday night or Thursday along or just ahead of the next cold frontal passage. Overnight lows will very likely be in the 50s/60s from Monday night-Wednesday night and more typical of June than April. Some of you may even need to turn on the A.C. with temperatures around 20-25°F above average. Whether it's "real spring" or "sudden summer" is up for debate, but there's no question that the wild temperature rollercoaster ride from March has gotten even more extreme in April. Phew! -- Elliott