Temperatures to throttle into 80s in mid-Atlantic by week’s end

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

April 12, 2018, 2:45:36 AM EDT

The stage is set for warmth to overspread much of the northeastern United States with 60-, 70- and 80-degree Fahrenheit weather for much of the region to end this week.

Following temperatures averaging 10-20 degrees below normal in recent weeks, the warmup will feel like people hopped on a plane and headed for Florida, especially by Friday and Saturday.

The annual explosion of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin frames the Washington Monument in the distance, Thursday, April 5, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The sun is now as strong as it is in late August and early September. During the afternoon hours, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures may be 10 degrees higher than the actual temperature.

The upcoming weather will provide a long-awaited opportunity to get outside and enjoy the spring, whether it's a walk in the park, a round of golf or lunch outside.

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Baseball fans will finally be able to enjoy the game in spring weather conditions.

The opportunities for outdoor activities in the pattern are nearly endless, except for swimming. Stream, lake and ocean waters are notoriously cold this time of the year and with the much lower-than-average temperatures, conditions are especially dangerous.

In areas from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City, the warmest weather since Oct. 10 is in store. Some people may even need to put the air conditioning on in their vehicle for a short time.

Farther north, especially in northern New England, cold air will put up a fight and the end result may be a zone of clouds, rain and drizzle.

Across the northern tier of New York state and New England, temperatures may hit the brakes at the 40- and 50-degree mark. Cities such as Massena, New York; Burlington, Vermont; Portland, Maine, and Boston may only briefly or not at all partake in this warmup.

This zone of raw and chilly air may push southward later in the weekend.

Meanwhile, the large storm partially responsible for the warmup in much of the East will slowly push across the Midwest this weekend.

A swath of showers, thunderstorms and severe weather will mark the leading edge of much cooler air.

The best bet for outdoor plans this weekend will be on Saturday over much of the region, when temperatures are likely to be at their peak and clouds and rain will remain spotty.

Where there is a breeze off the water, the air will remain chilly.

As the chilly air from the north and cooler air from the west converge on the Appalachians and the Atlantic Seaboard, the weather is likely to deteriorate on Sunday in the form of rain and thunderstorms.

At the same time a swath of ice is likely to develop over northern New York state and northern New England later this weekend.

For runners and spectators with plans for the Boston Marathon on Monday, the weather is looking to be stormy, windy and wet.

In the long-range, the warmth will fail to lock in just yet.

"We expect back-and-forth rounds of warmth and chill through much of the balance of April," according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok. "There could be a round of snow showers around April 18 or 19."

There will be the risk of frosts and freezes in the pattern, so people should avoid planting tender vegetables and annual flowers just yet, despite the upcoming warm surge.

Since the weather has been so cold for so long, soil temperatures are still very low for the middle of April. Seeds planted now may fail to germinate and they will rot. As a result, it may be better to wait a couple more weeks before planting grass.

At least for most areas of the Northeast, the cold weather of this past weekend to the start of the week is not likely to be matched for the balance of the month.