Slowly improving conditions for Presidents' Day

Although today - Monday, February 16th - is officially known as Washington's Birthday in honor of our first president, the honoree's true birthday is February 22nd. This disparity is thanks to the "Uniform Monday Holidays Act" of 1968. Thus the unofficial designation for this February holiday is Presidents' Day.

Regardless of how it's labeled today will provide a drying out period after the weekend rainfall. Most Mecklenburg County sites received almost an inch of liquid rain, with a Chase City gauge collecting a total of 1.72". Along with melting most remaining snow piles this amount of liquid will certainly help - but not eliminate - drought conditions.

Skies remain cloudy locally this morning as the storm system slowly pulls away out over the Atlantic. This visible satellite image shows the cloud line bisecting Virginia from north to south: 

The overcast will gradually push eastward out of Mecklenburg County, with sunshine becoming dominant by the lunch hour. Temperatures look to slowly climb into the low 50s this afternoon, and this morning's gusty northerly winds will settle down to near calm conditions.

Tuesday will then begin with temperatures in the mid-30s under clear skies. Afternoon highs will top out in the low 60s as sunshine coupled with a light southwesterly breeze warms the area. More clouds will roll in Tuesday night, with the current active weather pattern bringing several chances of much needed rain during the latter half of the week. But don't worry...daily high temperatures will still rise into the 60s the rest of this week for that early taste of spring.