Washington region basks in sunshine as signs of fall emerge
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Version 0 of 1. In many ways, Saturday in the Washington region was the day the previous Saturday could have been, if it had not been for the rain, gray skies, chilly temperatures and overall sensation of winter. This weekend, the Saturday skies were largely blue and the sun was much in evidence. Landscapes glowed, and the elements combined to provide both the appearance and the feel of fall. In Shenandoah National Park, the fall color update, posted Friday for the week to come, told prospective park visitors what they presumably wished to hear. “If you’re looking for gold,” the park staff reported, “you’ll find it in Shenandoah National Park this week.” It appeared that the forested slopes of the park have not yet reached their seasonal peak. At higher elevations, while driving toward the center of the park, almost every color on the fall palette may be seen, it was reported, “including, still, plenty of emerald green.” As the region headed deeper into autumn, it has been casting aside many of the characteristics of the warmer weather seasons. On Friday night, one of the weather staples of summer or at least of warm weather made its presence known. In what may have been their last, or one of their last appearances of the year, thunderstorms rolled into the region and then out again But they did not leave before jagged streaks of lightning coursed across the late-evening skies in a vast release of pent-up atmospheric energy. It poured in Rockville and in the District. At Reagan National Airport, the official measuring spot, a fast four-tenths of an inch fell, mostly between 7 and 8 p.m. When the line of storminess had passed, it seemed as though the area had entered a new season, or at least a new phase of autumn. The high temperature Friday at National fell only a single degree short of 80. By contrast, the high temperature there on Saturday was 66, which was 13 degrees less and four degrees below normal for Saturday’s date. That 79 degree reading on Friday was the warmest day of the month in Washington. In addition, federal weather forecasts for the two weeks through Oct. 24, show nothing comparable to that 79 degree reading. Instead, the highest temperature they predict is 74 degrees on Monday. But the majority of the expected high temperatures are in the 60s, with 61 and 60 showing up several times. Another statistical sign that cooler weather looms shows up in the record books. The record high temperature for Sunday’s date, Oct. 11, is 90 degrees. The reading was made in 1939. But that is the latest date on which the temperature reached 90 in October, November or December. From here on, the daily high temperature records are in the 80s, 70s and 60s. It’s a sign. |