Baltimore residents, brace yourselves for swiftly changing skies this weekend. According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, we're looking at a day of transition as the pesky low pressure takes its exit stage east. It's an atmospheric handoff to high pressure, so our Saturday should dry out as we head into the evening. For those who enjoyed the wintery look outside, Southern Maryland still has some lingering snow under Winter Weather Advisories until the early hours, but it's on its way out.
The weather script includes high winds to rapidly clear the stage for Sunday's calmer act. Gusts potentially reaching 25-35 mph are coming in from a northwesterly direction. These conditions are set to toss the clouds here and there and eventually break them apart, though keeping temperatures locked in the 30s or even cooler in the mountains. Think clear and crisp overnight, as temperatures are expected to slide effortlessly into the teens and single digits in some areas—truly a breath of frosty air for anyone stepping out.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the high pressure wants to make its presence fully known, asserting itself and pushing any stubborn snow showers in the Alleghenies off the stage by afternoon. While the high’s performance will likely not draw standing ovations, it does promise mostly sunny skies with temperatures willing to budge just a bit, nudging into the upper 30s and lower 40s—perhaps signaling an intermission from the recent cold snaps.
However, a weak clipper looking to make a cameo to our north on Monday could throw more clouds into the mix, even giving the Alleghenies a light dusting of snow thanks to a trailing disturbance. It's a reminder that the weather is never fully scripted, as high temperatures seem to rehearse the same lines from Sunday, again hitting the upper 30s and lower 40s for most. But for those mountain areas, it's a chilly encore of 20s.
Pilots taking to the skies can anticipate a return to VFR conditions during their aerial shows, with the National Weather Service confirming improvement by mid-morning. Conversely, the Mariners have a blustery scene to contend with. Small Craft Advisories signal choppy waters are in the forecast, with northwest gusts hitting 25-30 knots.
Beyond the weekend, the weather's long-term narrative hints at an active tumult in the skies, with strong upper troughs delivering continual, albeit frigid, performances throughout the week. Daytime highs might just hover around freezing from Tuesday through Thursday, with Nighttime lows taking a deep dive into the teens and single digits. You might want to keep your warm wardrobe in the spotlight, as blustery conditions are expected to remain featured players, primarily through Wednesday.
