Baltimore residents can look forward to plenty of sunshine and hot temperatures, as the latest forecast predicts a warming trend for the Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC area. According to the National Weather Service, today's highs will range from the 60s to 70s with mostly dry conditions. Winds are also expected to pick up slightly, especially along the western ridges, where gusts might reach 20 knots.
So prepare to quickly shed those layers because Wednesday and Thursday are set to break records. The mercury could rise to the upper 60s and into the 80s in lower elevations. The National Weather Service advises that the high temperatures may come close to, if not break, the historical records for late October. It's important to adjust plans and activities to account for what technically still falls but feels more like a waltz back into summer.
However, this balmy bliss is not to outstay its welcome. A cold front will cool things down by Friday, with a chance of rain showers. The weekend will usher in a more autumnal atmosphere, with highs topping out in the 50s to low 60s by Saturday. According to the aforementioned source, warmer temperatures will return early next week as a southerly flow rebounds.
For aviators, the weather outlook from the National Weather Service indicates that VFR conditions should prevail into the weekend, providing good visibility for flights. However, there are potential sub-VFR conditions leading into Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, mariners should anticipate gusty conditions on Thursday with a possibility of Small Craft Advisory criteria winds, especially in the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River.
With this unexpected heat wave, climate records teeter on the brink of being rewritten. The National Weather Service points to the probability that high-temperature records for October 30 and October 31 might be matched or surpassed, noting that near-record warmth is expected for the dates in question, with historical highs set firmly in the 80s for this period.
