Voters heading to polling stations across Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia on Tuesday can expect a mild and mostly sunny Election Day, with early fog clearing before temperatures climb to about 72F (22C).
The National Weather Service said patchy fog could linger until around 9am, but conditions should then become increasingly bright. Light winds shifting southerly at about 5 to 7mph are expected to help drive the warm-up.
Morning temperatures began in the 40s and 50s, while the afternoon forecast points to highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Dry weather is expected to make conditions more comfortable for people waiting outside polling places.
Clear or mostly clear skies were reported at airports across the region early on Tuesday. Overnight temperatures are forecast to fall back to the low and mid-50s, with further patches of fog possible before Wednesday morning.
The unseasonably warm spell is expected to continue through the middle of the week. Washington DC could reach 75F (24C) on Wednesday, followed by a high of about 76F (24C) on Thursday — well above the early-November average high of roughly 63F (17C).
Rain is likely to become the main change in the forecast from Thursday. The National Weather Service puts the chance of rain at about 50 per cent during the day, rising to 80 per cent on Friday, when showers and possibly a thunderstorm could affect the region.
Conditions should turn drier on Saturday, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 69F (21C). Cloudier weather is expected to return on Sunday, bringing a small chance of showers as the new week begins.
