We have cloudy skies early on this Thursday morning and temperatures range from near 40 in Clifton down to the low 30s further inland, winds are mainly calm.

CLIFTON’S ALMANAC FOR DECEMBER 24TH:

AVERAGE HIGH: 40 AVERAGE LOW: 23

RECORD HIGH: 71 – 2015 RECORD LOW: 0 – 1989 AND 1983

YESTERDAY’S HIGH: 45 LOW: 30 PRECIPITATION: NONE

A very strong cold front will be approaching our area today with a southerly flow of quite mild and moist air ahead of the front. Rain is expected to begin around 4 p.m. and become heavy at times at night. Winds will become quite strong with gusts up to 50 mph. Rainfall amounts of 2-3 inches are likely. A wind advisory and a flood watch is in effect for the area.

The rain should taper off to showers on Christmas after the cold front moves through the area in the morning. It will become much colder, early highs well up into the 50s in the morning will fall to the mid 30s by sunset and into the 20s at night.

Dry weather is expected for the weekend, Saturday will be cold and Sunday will be slightly milder.

A weak cold front may touch off a shower on Monday followed by dry and seasonably cool weather for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Another rainstorm with mild temperatures is possible on New Year’s Eve.

THE FORECAST:

TODAY – DEC 24 – Cloudy with rain developing mainly after 4 p.m. becoming breezy, high near 60.

TONIGHT – Rain heavy at times with strong winds gusting to 50 mph, low in the mid 50s.

CHRISTMAS DAY – DEC 25 – Rain tapering off to showers by the afternoon, highs in the 50s in the morning dropping to the upper 30s by sunset.

SATURDAY – DEC 26 – Sunny, high in the mid 30s.

SUNDAY – DEC 27 – Sunny, high near 40.

MONDAY – DEC 28 – Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers, high in the upper 40s.

TUESDAY – DEC 29 – Mostly sunny, high in the upper 30s.

WEDNESDAY – DEC 30 – Mostly sunny, high in the upper 30s.

MARINE FORECAST: A gale warning is in effect until 6 p.m. this evening for southerly winds gusting to 35 knots, seas 5-8 feet.

OUTLOOK – A storm warning has been issued effective between 6 p.m. this evening until 6 a.m. Friday morning; Small craft advisories expected for the rest of Friday with some gale gusts in the morning; advisories expected to continue through Saturday; no advisories expected for Sunday; small craft advisories again likely on Monday.

Have a nice day and stay safe and healthy!