With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Baltimore residents can expect a reprieve from the autumn chill thanks to a high-pressure system moving across the region today. While the early part of the day may be graced with sunshine, those high-level clouds will be rolling in by early afternoon. As forecasted by the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, temperatures are anticipated to hit the low to mid-50s, but if you're up in the mountains, prepare for the 40s.
The break in the weather won't last too long. A complex low-pressure system will sweep through the area tonight, bringing widespread precipitation and a temperature dip into Thursday. By the time the turkey's in the oven on Thanksgiving, many locals will see anything from a quarter to half an inch of rain, with northern areas potentially getting the heavier end of that range. Meanwhile, mountain regions should watch for snow showers as colder air moves in Thursday evening.
Be prepared for a turn in the weather as Friday rolls around. Conditions are expected to dry out except in the mountains, where snow showers may continue. A cold front Friday evening will plunge temperatures across the region, with forecasts indicating widespread lows in the upper teens to mid-20s. Evening winds could make those numbers feel even chillier, especially in the high-altitude spots of the Alleghenies, where feels-like temps as low as -5F are possible, the National Weather Service warns.
We will continue the cold spell on Saturday through Tuesday under a broad upper-level trough. This setup will keep temperatures below average and usher in multiple waves of upslope snow showers for folks west of the Allegheny Front. Outside of the mountainous areas, however, "dry conditions are expected" with daily high temperatures hovering in the low 40s and dipping into the teens to 20s overnight, the National Weather Service notes.
Variable Flight Rules (VFR) conditions are on tap through this evening for those planning to take to the skies. However, changes are in store with incoming low pressure, which will likely bring IFR conditions to all terminals from late tonight through Thursday afternoon, possibly impacting travel during the busy holiday. Mariners aren't exempt from the conditions either, with Small Craft Advisories likely to be declared starting Thursday afternoon as winds pick up with the shifting weather systems.
