East Coast in for a Wild Ride Before Calmer Weather Prevails Next Week

A calmer weather pattern will arrive across the eastern U.S. next week. But first, the region will need to power through a stretch of volatile conditions over the next few days. Here is a look at the complex weather that is currently impacting the eastern U.S. heading into the Easter weekend.

Drastic Temperature Changes for the East Ahead of Stabilization Next Week

It is going to be a wild period of weather in the days ahead for the eastern third of the country. In addition to fluctuating temperatures, windy conditions and the threat of precipitation will create a chaotic scene at times. The upheaval will persist through the holiday weekend, potentially threatening outdoor activities for millions of Americans.

A large zone from the mid-Atlantic up into New England saw the arrival of a backdoor cold front on Wednesday and Thursday. This cold front sent the mercury tumbling across the region. For instance, after enjoying a high of 80 degrees on Wednesday, New York City woke up to readings in the mid 30s on Thursday. Winds out of the east at 15 to 25 mph amplified the chill in the air across the Big Apple. The city will see slightly warmer temperatures on Friday, with highs expected to hover in the low to mid 60s under cloudy skies.

It was a similar situation to the south in Washington, D.C. The nation's capital saw real feel readings near 90 degrees on Wednesday plunge into the 50s by Thursday morning. A thick cloud cover and light rain muted the beauty of the famed cherry blossoms along the National Mall.

A fresh influx of warmer air will push to the east from the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi valleys late Friday and into Saturday. This will bring the temperatures back up briefly. Some areas from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic coastline may even see daily record highs challenged on Saturday.

Temperatures may reach the 80s before the next cold front arrives later in the day on Saturday. For example, Philadelphia is likely to set a new daily record on Saturday with a forecast high of 82 degrees. The current record for this date in the City of Brotherly Love is 80 degrees, dating all the way back to 1892.

It will be even toastier on the other side of the Keystone State. Pittsburgh will see the mercury soar into the mid 80s on Saturday afternoon under a mix of sun and clouds.

The Saturday cold front will first impact New England before filtering farther to the west and south ahead of the Easter holiday. Going back to Philly, the city will see the temperatures max out in the upper 60s on Sunday before struggling to climb out of the 50s for highs on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The frontal boundary will also bring rain to the interior of the Northeast. Pittsburgh is forecast to see the change arrive on Saturday evening as scattered rain showers become a steady stream of moisture that dumps about a half-inch of moisture across the Steel City.

A sharp temperature gradient will set up across eastern New England on Saturday when the cold front pushes through. A morning high of 55 degrees in Boston will slide to near 40 degrees. Cloudy skies and winds out of the northeast at 10 to 20 mph will make it feel even chillier when the temperatures begin to drop noticeably.