The Baltimore area is under cold siege, with the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC predicting severe winter weather that could impact the region early in the weekend. According to their latest Area Forecast Discussion, residents should buckle down for drier and breezy conditions fuelled by a strong Arctic high pressure that's settled nearby, with signs suggesting another low-pressure system might soon follow.
Today, the aftermath of snowfall is sticking around, especially east of the Alleghenies, where light flurries persist despite the main event having made its exit. If you're braving the Allegheny Front, be advised that a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for a few more hours. The real sting in the tail could be the wind chills, anticipated to hit 15 degrees below zero. For those outside these areas, it's not exactly balmy either, as winds could drop temperatures into negative single digits.
Looking forward, the snow is set to continue along the Alleghenies, while elsewhere, strong gusts are whipping up, reaching 30 to 35 knots in higher terrain and 20 to 30 knots throughout much of the day. With these gusty conditions, keep an eye on the mercury because it's struggling to climb above the freezing mark in most places. The expected blend of sun and clouds will do little to melt what's already on the ground, which means you'll likely see refreezing as nighttime temperatures plunge.
Wednesday into Thursday doesn't promise much respite with "another dry and cold period," as forecasters put it. Winds continue as a consistent narrative across the lowlands, sometimes gusting up to 30 knots. And for the mountain folk? Expect more snow, courtesy of upslope conditions and wind chills flirting with the zero mark. It's a chilly forecast that could necessitate "additional Cold Weather headlines," according to the National Weather Service discussion.
As the week draws close, attention turns to a complex system that may throw a mix of wintry precipitation our way. The timing and impact of this incoming weather are fraught with uncertainties, and while the potential for another round of impactful snow exists, prognosticators are holding back definitive calls. It sounds like Friday might avoid the worst, with precip not arriving until at least nightfall, spreading east into Saturday. After that, high pressure looks set to return the region to dry, cold conditions.
In the skies, it's a similar song; VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions are expected to hold firm into the workweek, with gusts affecting air travel through Thursday. Change might come late Friday or into Saturday as the storm system gets closer, but – and it's significant – the exact impact on aviation remains in the air (no pun intended).
Over the water, boaters face Gale Warnings and Small Craft Advisories, extended into Wednesday courtesy of the tight pressure gradient. The winds could persist through Friday before calming down as high pressure takes the lead. Mariners, meanwhile, should be especially mindful of extremely low water levels.
So, as Baltimore weathers this wintry blow, the consensus seems clear: bundle up, stay dry, and keep your eyes on the forecast as the weekend approaches. The only certainty is that winter, with all its might, is far from over.
