A Cold Easter in the Northeast

The combination of low pressure over Nova Scotia and high pressure north of the Great Lakes has produced strong cold air advection with morning thicknesses down to 528 across the NYC metropolitan area on this Easter Sunday. With rather strong northwest winds gusts to 30 mph or more, it feels even colder. High temperatures in the NYC metropolitan area will only be around 50 which is 10 degrees below normal. In typical fashion for mid-April, the cold spell will not last and after a cold night with freezing temperatures, daytime highs on Monday will be near normal and it will be warmer thsi week with pleasant temperatures.

The GFS model continues to indicate another late season cold blast on or about April 23-25, 2009 with forecast thicknesses in the 520s over the NYC metropolitan region and central New England. If this verifies, it could produce record low temperatures in parts of the area and a killing freeze. Agricultural interests and home gardeners should keep this cold snap in mind and monitor the progress of this cold spell that is forecast. One again this one will also be brief. I would not be surprised to hear of reports of snow flurries during this period. In Central Park, NYC, the latest accumulating snowfall occurred back in 1875 when 3.0 inches fell. The forecast GFS model graphic for 8 PM on April 24, 2009 (00Z on April 25, 2009) is produced below.










George Wright, AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist and President of Wright Weather Consulting, Inc. View our web site at WrightWeather.com.