If you’ve enjoyed this stretch of exceptionally warm weather for this point in the year, savor the next couple days as we will be cooling off by mid-week, with this cooler weather looking to persist for a while as the pattern flips more favorably for below-normal temperatures for much of the continental US.

Monday represents the beginning of the last gasp of warmth. First, though, we may be contending with a few showers near the coast as a trough lifts inland during the day. Most of us look to stay dry, though, as temperatures head to the upper 70s with southerly flow in place.

We will get one more crack at a record high on Tuesday as temperatures soar into the mid-80s ahead of a cold front. The current NWS forecast high of 86° would tie the record at the airport set in 1961. Cloud cover will be generally sparse throughout the day despite the approaching front.

Said front will pass through late Tuesday/early Wednesday without any rain of note given dry air in place, but the airmass will certainly feel a lot different as we wake up to upper 40s on Wednesday. Temperatures will only warm into the upper 60s to around 70° as cooler, drier air works its way into the area.

Thursday will look and feel a lot like Wednesday did before a storm system begins to approach the area Friday, leading to increasing rain chances heading into Friday afternoon and evening. We’ll keep those rain chances around for the first part of the weekend before the storm system’s cold front clears the area later Saturday. Temperatures Friday and Saturday will generally run in the low 50s in the morning before increasing to around 70° each afternoon.

The weekend isn’t a total rainout as we’ll look to have a rain-free Sunday. Lows will run about 5-8° cooler than they did on Saturday, bottoming out in the upper 40s before highs reach the upper 60s in the afternoon under a mix of sun and clouds.

Overall, this cooler weather looks to have some staying power, as below-normal temperatures are projected well through the middle of the month. It remains to be seen if a freeze occurs, but overall, it’s best to wait until April to plant anything sensitive.