The storm system that produced prolific rainfall and relentless unstable weather conditions is finally shifting northeast, and skies have cleared as the system loses it's grip on the area. The surface low pressure is now well offshore, and heights in the middle of the atmosphere are beginning to rise, as the big upper level trough responsible for the active weather pattern is shifting north and east, away from our area. A ridge of higher pressure is building into the area, at least for the time being.  Wednesday should feature sunny skies, and temperatures well warmer than those of the previous few days. The thermometer is forecast to reach into the mid and upper 80's on Wednesday, with a light west-northwest breeze and plentiful sun. It will truly feel like a return to summer after the past few days of below normal temperatures. Featured Video: Forecast discussion for August 17th, 2011, highlighting the return to pleasant weather and the potential for some thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday.

ISS Makes It's Presence Known: The International Space Station will pass overhead the New York City Metro area later tonight (Wednesday night)--- reaching brightness magnitudes lower than -3.0, resulting in a "very bright" viewing ability. The International Space Station often passes overhead but is seldom noticed--although it should be brighter tonight. Look to the west around 8:25pm tonight to see the ISS rise above the horizon. The ISS will look like a bright planet moving slowly through the sky---a truly amazing sight considering it's man-made technology. The ISS is not scheduled to pass overhead for several weeks after the Wednesday evening pass. . The transit and rise times depend on your zip code, so be sure to visit this website for exact time details.

A Look Ahead: The end of the week looks to offer a chance of some unsettled weather conditions, as a chance of rain will rear it's head on Thursday afternoon and Friday, when a frontal boundary near the region could very well spark off showers and thunderstorms. The storms could be more widespread on Friday, offering a chance for more rainfall. Saturday and Sunday remain "up in the air" with a chance of scattered showers & storms as well, although not complete washouts.

Article written August 17th, 2011 at 12:27am. Looking for a forecast? See New York Metro Weather's Long Range Forecast for the upcoming week, or view our Technical Forecast Discussion for the more serious weather enthusiasts. Also, check out our new Forecast Overview tab. For up to the minute details on forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.