According to the latest weather forecast, Baltimore and the adjacent Washington, D.C. area are slated to experience varied weather conditions this week. A moisture-starved cold front is set to make its way across the Mid-Atlantic by Thursday, followed by high-pressure momentum from the Great Plains towards the East Coast leading into the weekend. Forecasters are tracking an area of low pressure that could bring widespread rainfall starting Sunday into the night, as the National Weather Service reported.
The near-term forecast predicts a low cloud cover and fog decrease this morning, with mild south flow persisting across most regions. Increasing mid and high-level clouds are expected as the front edges closer from the northwest. There's a shot at isolated showers pushing east of the I-81 corridor this afternoon, although chances are diminished following the departure of the forcing. Temps could climb into the upper 70s to lower 80s, complemented by wind gusts tapping out around 20 mph.
Transitioning into the short term, the cold front's progression southward through Thursday and into Thursday night arrives with some ambiguity in timing. Forecasters anticipate the surface wind shift could surpass the airmass gradient aloft, potentially stirring up anafrontal showers. Despite scattered activity projections, rainfall accumulations are set to be on the lighter side. Temperature highs, kept in check by lagging cold advection, are expected to remain in the 70s to near 80 while lingering showers trail southward Thursday night.
As for aviation concerns, the prospects for fog or low clouds are seemingly on the wane at most appointed terminals this morning, except CHO, which may grapple with MVFR ceilings through the mid-to-late morning. Some south-to-southwest wind gusts are expected today before calming in the evening. The forecast suggests the cold front will gradually ease south across the area tonight through Thursday night, potentially resulting in occasional sub-VFR ceilings, mainly during the overnight and morning hours.
On the marine front, some advisory-level gusts have been recorded overnight along the bay, with the advisory remaining in place as winds are predicted to surge post-sunrise. South winds could gust up to 20 knots before diminishing this afternoon. They transition to northerly winds by Thursday night, although they remain short of Small Craft Advisory (SCA) criteria. On Saturday, conditions moderate, while by Sunday, southerly winds could push back up towards SCA thresholds over the open waters of the Bay.
