We are still on track for record breaking temperatures Thursday, Christmas Eve, with rain returning by evening.  High about 75 in Philadelphia.   If we get any sunshine tomorrow, we would go much warmer.

Cloudy, wet and warm will be the general trend through next Tuesday.  (A break in the rain Christmas Day.)

Seasonably cold weather returns around New Year’s Eve.

Most interesting is that the GFS has resumed suggesting a possible snow storm in the January 4-6th timeframe.  Way too far off to really take this seriously, but this is the second time the long range GFS has suggested this possibility in this timeframe.

Updated 12/24 6 PM:

It looks like the extreme record high temperatures predicted were NOT reached in Philadelphia  today.   It looks like we “only” reached 71 at PHL airport.

Some of the timing for the upcoming precipitation has changed a bit for the weekend.  Will update on Friday.

It’s been so warm so far this December, that this weekend’s high temperatures in the low 40s will feel shockingly cold even though our highs and lows will match the statistical averages for these dates.

For Saturday, gusty winds will make average temperatures for December feel even colder, despite sunny skies.  Highs around 42.

For Sunday, expect sunny skies and less wind with high temps around 43.

As mentioned a few days ago, the upcoming week before Christmas will be warm and wet with possible record-breaking warm temperatures X-mas eve.

In fact, the current pattern of mostly warm with shorter intervals of [near average] cold weather will likely be with us through the end of this calendar year.  

A warm and increasingly moist southwesterly to southerly flow of air around a slowly departing high pressure system will continue to provide possible record setting high temperatures for us this weekend.

For Saturday, moisture overnight will break for partly sunny skies.  An increase in moisture will bring cloudiness back in the late afternoon.  High 64.

On Sunday, a further increase in moisture will result in mid-level cloudiness and mostly cloudy skies, with possible brighter breaks. High possibly as high as 70, if we get some sunshine poking through.

It looks like the first taste of winter will arrive late Thursday with next weekend being quite cold.  However, the cold won’t last very long.

Update Sunday 12/13:

It took awhile for the altocumulus to roll in today. The rain will arrive earlier on Monday.  Next weekend will be very cold here, but temperatures will moderate after a few days. The long range forecast  for X-mas wet and mild.

The remainder of the month looks to be very active, with plenty of moisture and rain, alternating periods of cold and warm weather.