According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, Baltimore residents can look forward to a gradual warming trend over the weekend as surface high pressure builds over the southeastern United States. The weekend's clear skies are expected to give way to precipitation early next week, with rain and mountain snow on the horizon as a cold front pushes through mid-week, followed by calmer and drier weather by Thursday.
The current surface analysis features high pressure extending from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Central Appalachians. Some westerly wind atop this anticyclone is noted in local observations, mainly in the 5 to 10 mph range, cites the National Weather Service. For those areas that have remained cloud-free, temperatures have seen significant dips into the teens, particularly in the central Virginia Piedmont and back into the Shenandoah Valley.
As the weekend progresses, conditions improve, with forecast highs mainly in the upper 30s to mid-40s, with mainly 30s across the mountains under a mixed bag of sun and clouds. Going into Sunday, the forecast from the National Weather Service indicates an increase in temperatures, with highs expected to reach into the 50s and possibly hit the low 60s in certain areas south of I-66 in Virginia. This comes notwithstanding the increased cloud cover expected before the next weather system.
Next week, the region is set to experience an all-rain event starting late Sunday night and continuing through Monday. Most areas will see around 0.10-0.25 inches of rain, locally around 0.50 inches along the Allegheny Front. This precipitation and cloud cover will result in a moderate temperature downturn on Monday, with several locations not rising above the mid-to-upper 40s.
Long-term forecasts show an amplifying upper-level trough that may bring substantial changes midweek, including widespread soaking rain and a potential shift to snow in mountainous areas. Behind the mid-week front, the Baltimore area is poised for a significant temperature drop and a spike in winds, which might warrant attention for potential damaging gusts.
There are no current advisories in effect for Washington, D.C. Maryland has a Small Craft Advisory for parts of the Chesapeake Bay until this afternoon, and there are no advisories for Virginia or West Virginia. For the marine forecast, Small Craft Advisories remain in place for certain zones, with the possibility of Gale conditions by Wednesday night.
