Warm weather a short interruption of winter

At right, Matt Paul takes advantage of Tuesday’s warm temperatures to get in some practice on his skateboard along Woodstock Lane in Winchester. Paul is the pro team manager with Time 2 Shine, Skate and BMX Pro Shop in Inwwod, W.Va.

Milyiah Houghton, 4, gets a push from Montezz Lincoln, 6, as she takes a ride in her friend's princess car. The two were enjoying Tuesday's warm temperatures with a visit to Jim Barnett Park. Milyiah's mother is Susie Houghton and Montezz’s mother is Brandy Dunlap. All are from Winchester. (Photo by Ginger Perry/The Winchester Star)

WINCHESTER — The spring-like weather that rolled into Winchester on Tuesday won’t last long, according to the National Weather Service.

Brian Lasorsa, with the NWS in Sterling, said a southerly flow of warm air was responsible for Tuesday’s unusually high temperatures — which were expected to continue into today. But much colder weather is in the forecast for later in the week.

The Weather Channel and weather website wunderground.com both listed Tuesday’s high in Winchester as 70 degrees, and called for today to top out in the mid-60s.

Weather Underground’s highest recorded temperature for Jan. 29 is 73 degrees in 2002. The average high for the date is 40 and average low 25.

Lasorsa said that a cold front from the Midwest and Canada is expected to begin moving into the area today, however, dropping the high temperature into the 30s by Thursday.

“Obviously it’s very warm for this time of the year, this would be more typical for late spring,” he said. “[Temperature changes like this are] not normal, but they’re not uncommon.”

In addition to dropping temperatures, the front is expected to bring rain showers today, when the colder weather mixes with moisture in the air, Lasorsa said.

The area could receive an inch to 1¹⁄₂ inches of rain through tonight. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms, but it’s more likely that the area will experience gusty winds and spot thunder along the line of heavier rain showers at the head of the cold front, Lasorsa said.

He said there is also a 30 to 40 percent chance of snow Thursday night and Friday morning, but that it will likely not produce any significant accumulation.

— Contact Matt Armstrong at marmstrong@winchesterstar.com