Baltimore residents, brace yourselves for bone-chilling weather. The National Weather Service's latest area forecast points to a continued upper trough influence, which means the city will be gripped by well below-average temperatures right through the middle of next week. The chill isn't coming alone—there's also a potential parade of snow showers, primarily for those nestled along and west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Today, Baltimoreans might feel the sting of the colder air a bit more sharply, with daytime highs struggling to reach the upper 30s and the winds gusting up to 25 mph, making it feel like you're wading through the lower 30s or even 20s. Tonight, thermometers are expected to dip even further into the teens and low 20s. Folks in the mountains could experience temperatures feeling like single digits to teens, a bone-chilling prospect.
The workweek's commencement doesn't promise much reprieve. Monday brings with it an unwelcome continuation of the deep freeze, as highs stall in the 30s and gusty winds persist, reiterating the need for multiple layers if one must venture out. The mercury is slated to slide down again on Monday night. The forecast shows lows ranging from low to mid-20s, again with a steeper mountain drop, as cited by the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC.
Looking ahead, Tuesday through Friday doesn't stray far from the established frigid theme. A rex block over the western United States is acting like a celestial bouncer, steering that cold Arctic air straight into our region. Despite this, Thursday might offer a short respite with temperatures flirting with the 50s, especially to the south of Interstate 66. However, this warm-up is fleeting as another cold front looms, potentially ushering in another system by the weekend.
The aviation outlook also places VFR—Visual Flight Rules—conditions on the docket through tonight, with west winds gusting around 20 knots this afternoon. Although VFR is anticipated for Monday, more robust gusts could make their presence felt. Sub-VFR conditions become a possibility with Wednesday's system approaching, requiring pilots to stay sharp, especially considering the potential for light snowfall around some terminals.
On the water, mariners are sailing under a cautionary tone as Small Craft Advisories sing their siren song across the waters until this evening. The advisories are in effect due to westerly winds that don't seem to quit. These conditions are forecasted to soften overnight but pick up again with gusto by Monday afternoon. Mariners, it might be wise to queue up the weather updates on your favorite device before making plans on the Bay.
