Tranquil conditions continue, but active weather pattern expected to return

High pressure is slowly transitioning towards the Ohio Valley today, which will lead to a slight shift in the winds towards the northwest.  Other than the wind shift, conditions will remain rather quiet throughout the northern Mid Atlantic, as least for now.

The water vapor satellite picture this morning shows an interesting separation between the Sub Tropical and Polar jet streams.  Note that the low pressure over the Southeast will remain well south and east of the northern Mid Atlantic over the next 24 hours due to the Polar jet stream suppressing the low pressure system.  An area of sinking air between the two jet streams is centered right over the Philadelphia metropolitan area through Long Island, which will lead to clear skies due to sinking air over the region.  This sinking air will also support warm temperatures with many locations breaking well into the 60's, possibly upper 60's by this afternoon.  Yes, it will be very difficult to concentrate this afternoon at work or school!

Now, these conditions are expected to continue through this weekend with clear skies and rather warm temperatures.  In fact, I would not rule out the potential for highs hitting 70 degrees over the Delaware River Valley and some urban locations due to the strong sun shine and sinking motion of the atmosphere.  However, the tranquil conditions will come to an end by the start of next week.

The upper level pattern will shift once again as the Sub Tropical jet stream begins to move north and west.  This shift in the Sub Tropical jet stream will lead to a weak ridge over the Southeast coast and force a storm track through the Mid Atlantic.  For example, the storm that is south and east of the region today would have been forced into the northern Mid Atlantic if this pattern shift had happened already.  The first low pressure system is expected on late Sunday night through Monday in the form of a slow moving cold front.  As the low pressure system moves through the Ohio Valley, the Polar jet stream will phase with the Sub Tropical disturbance to add a Polar air mass into the mix.  The result will be periods of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms through Monday evening.

The low pressure system will exit by Tuesday morning with a few lingering showers followed by clearing conditions.  High pressure will take hold on Tuesday afternoon through Thursday with dry conditions, scattered to few clouds, and temperatures rebounding into the 50's and 60's.  However, another area of low pressure with a similar storm track is expected by Friday and Saturday with periods of rain and potentially strong to severe thunderstorms.

Overall, the temperatures through the next seven days will remain relatively above normal, especially for this weekend.  The new pattern that evolves for next week will bring a risk of severe weather returning to the region along with the potential for additional flash flooding.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

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Tranquil and perfect, a look at this evening

This is the second afternoon of perfect conditions with clear skies, low humidity, and temperatures pushing into the upper 50's to lower 60's along the immediate coast and lower to mid 60's throughout the rest of the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan areas.

The tranquil conditions will continue into this evening as temperatures slowly fall through the 50's and into the 40's under clear skies and light winds.  With dew points in the teens throughout the Northeast and Mid Atlantic, temperatures will have no problem crashing in the early morning hours into the upper 20's to lower 30's over the northern interior and mid to upper 30's along the coast.  So expect a slightly chilly start to Thursday.

Otherwise, high pressure will remain in control with perfect Spring conditions through Friday and for much of the weekend.  In fact, high temperatures for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will easily push into the 60's even along the immediate coast and may touch 70 degrees away from the beaches, especially over the Delaware River Valley.  Clearly a far different weather weekend than last weekend or compared to the past several weeks.

A cold front will approach late on Sunday with increasing clouds and showers late in the evening.  Periods of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms can be expected through Monday afternoon with the potential for some flash flooding in areas already prone to flooding this afternoon.  Temperatures on Monday will likely linger in the 40's and 50's due to the rainfall.

High pressure will return on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with clearing skies and temperatures rebounding into the 50's and 60's once again.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

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Brookside Residents Struggle Without Power

Among the damage and struggles of Freehold residents from last weekend's mamouth rain storm were the residents of Brookside Assisted Living, who lived without power for nearly 60 hours because of the storm.

www.thebrookside.com

The 175 residents huddled in the facility's theater with generators and heaters from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday morning, but power is now back at the assisted living facility. Read more

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Kitty, Kitty Might Be Here: More Reports of Mountain Lion in Freehold Twp

Posted via APP.com:

Police responded to a possible mountain lion sighting Tuesday, but no animal or paw prints were found.

A Duchess Court resident called police to say a brown animal with a long tail had been spotted near a tree line some 25 to 30 yards away. Read more

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Janice Venables Enters The Democratic Freeholder Mix

Posted via MoreMonmouthMusings

Spring Lake Councilwoman Janice Venables will compete with Vincent Solomeno of Hazlet to be Freeholder John D'Amico's running mate in this year's Monmouth County Freeholder race.

Venables, a practicing attorney in Manasquan, has served on the Spring Lake council since being appointed to fill a vacancy in 1999. She was elected to a full term in 2000 and re-elected in 2003, 2006 and 2009.

Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vic Scudiery told MoreMonmouthMusings that he doesn't have a favorite in the race. "Janice and Vincent will work the room at the convention. The winner will be our nominee." Scudiery did say that he was impressed that Venables was re-elected in Spring Lake last November despite Chris Christie's overwhelming plurality in Monmouth County on the top of the ticket.

The Democrats will choose their nominees for Freeholder, Sheriff and Congress at a "mini-convention" on March 27 for 10 am-noon. Delegates to the convention are comprised of elected officials, municipal chairs and vice chairs, club presidents and vice presidents and at-large delegates determined by a percentage of primary voters in the previous election.

In the GOP, Neptune City Mayor Thomas Arnone, former Middletown Committeeman Thomas Wilkens and Spring Lake Councilman Gary Rich are competing to be Freeholder Rob Clifton's running mate.

Republicans will select their nominees on March 29. The selection committee is comprised of present and former elected officials at the county and state level, municipal chairs and former county chairs.

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Openness in Government webinar at Monmouth County Library Headquarters March 19

Attention all citizen journalists! Check out the "Openness in Government: Building Transparency" webinar at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan on Friday, March 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The webinar is co-sponsored by the Monmouth County League of Women Voters and the Monmouth County Library System, and is part of "Sunshine Week," an ongoing national nonpartisan initiative to engage in a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

The "Building Transparency" webinar will focus on transparency in the Obama administration – what has changed and what remains to be done. High-level government officials - including Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, and Miriam Nisbet, Director of the new Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) - will discuss the Administration’s new initiatives and their effect on the public. Panelists will also take questions from the live and viewing audience.

Plan to join us at this webinar “Monmouth County viewing party!”
Contact 732-431-7220 for more information.

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A well deserved break after a brutal end to winter

After a February and early March that produced historic heavy snowfall, heavy rain, flash flooding, wind damage, and all sorts of other issues; the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan areas finally are going to get a nice and well deserved break.

High pressure this morning is producing clear skies with temperatures in the mid 30's to lower 40's throughout the northern Mid Atlantic.  Clear skies can be expected through the day and into tonight with temperatures this afternoon expected to break into the lower to mid 60's throughout the region.  The only exception will be the immediate coast where the Atlantic Ocean will keep temperatures slightly cooler in the upper 50's.  A perfect day for St. Patrick's Day!

High pressure will remain in control through this coming weekend with similar conditions.  In fact, there is a real potential for some locations to push close to if not to 70 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.  So clearly this weekend is the time to get outside and enjoy the comfortable conditions, unless you are watching basketball that is! Read more

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Freehold Releases Snow Cost Estimates

This winter's unusually heavy series of snowstorms has cost Freehold $85,000, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina reported Monday night.

Freehold Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina

Most of the expenses came from rock salt purchases and overtime, Bellina told the Borough Council.

Those costs will be minimized thanks to the borough's "snow trust," where officials had put aside money for just such an emergency.

Overtime payouts will come from the borough's operating budget, but Bellina was confident the snowstorms would not have a severe impact on the budget.

"We should be fine," he said in a follow-up interview Tuesday.

As for the havoc wreaked by last weekend's rainstorm, Bellina said Tuesday it was too early to tell how much it had cost the borough.

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Spring-like conditions return!

It's amazing how much weather conditions can change in less than 24 hours!  Just this morning, overcast conditions dominated and the regions was still soaked from the five day rainfall event!  This afternoon, conditions could not be much different with clear skies and much warmer temperatures as highs blew past forecasted temperatures into the upper 50's to mid 60's throughout the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan area. Read more

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Spotted: Mountain Lion Migrating to Freehold?

The mountain lion--or creature like it--that has been spotted around Manalapan over the last week may be migrating into Freehold territory, according to chatter on Facebook today.

The footprint of the mysterious creature spotted around Manalapan--and now possibly Freehold--during the last week is believed to be feline.

Though the cat was most recently seen off Taylors Mills Road, Millford Brook, and Tennent Road, readers today reported that it crept to Durand Park in Freehold Township most recently. Read more

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Casagrande & Co. Open New Office on Main Street

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande is moving on up, or, well, west. Casagrande opened her new office at 35 West Main Street in Freehold Borough, in the storefront formerly occupied by Freehold Jewelers.

Casagrande took a moment to chat with us about the move as she made her way home from Governor Christie's budget address earlier today. Read more

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It’s Mardis Gras All Over Again for Court Street Fundraiser

Thought the annual festival for decadence was sadly past us? Think again. The Court Street School Education Community Center will host a Mardis Gras themed fundraiser this weekend to give patrons one last chance to indulge their Mardis Gras whims.

www.courtstreetschool.com

For $35, attendees will receive masks and beads to go along with a four-course dinner at Knob Hill Country Club this coming Saturday, March 20, to help raise money for the historical center, which runs after school educational programming for area youth. Check out CourtStreetSchool.com for more info.

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Pole Still Teetering on Kozloski; St. Rose Still Without Power

As cleanup continues from the heavy rain and wind of last weekend, a telephone pole on busy Kozloski Road remains unstable.

As of 1PM Tuesday, Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) workers held the pole in place while diverting traffic around its trucks. The pole was dislodged from the ground following torrential rains that moistened the ground and winds that pulled it out. Read more

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Two Freehold Twp. men facing attempted robbery charge

Posted via APP.com:

Police arrested two township men who they say tried to rob another man during a prescription drug sale that went bad.

Robert Mason, 19, of Sodahouse Court, and Mark Chilton, 18, of Andrews Court, were arrested Friday.
Police said Mason and the victim, a 32-year-old township man, got into a tussle in the a parking lot of a condominium complex on Sodahouse Court around 11 a.m. Friday. Mason slashed the tires and smashed a window on the man's car, said Detective Sgt. Jerry Kiwit.
Both Mason and Chilton were arrested on an attempted robbery charge. Mason was also charged with weapons offenses, terroristic threats and criminal mischief.
Bail for Mason was set at $295,000, and bail for Chilton was set at $102,500.

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Ahoy! Pirates aplenty at Monmouth County Library’s annual Children’s Book Fair

Walk the plank, dig for buried treasure and borrow a book at Monmouth County Library System’s 2010 Children’s Book Fair from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 20, at the Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive.

This year’s theme is Pirates! Hooked on Books. A pair of swashbuckling buccaneers from Period Productions will cross swords and share tales of the pirate life. A variety of children’s books will be available for purchase, and pirate-themed books will be on display to borrow.

Readers of all ages can enjoy crafts, movies, pirate booty raffles and pirate activities such as walking the plank and throwing cannonballs at a pirate schooner. Children can meet a parrot, a wallaby and other rescued animals in “Parrots of the Caribbean,” presented by Eyes of the Wild.

The event is free and no prior registration is required. For more information, please call the Children’s Department at 732-431-7226.

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