
As Baltimore grapples with a bone-chilling Arctic high that's descended upon the city, residents are bracing for what's shaping up to be a week of hazardous cold temperatures. According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, temperatures throughout the week are expected to linger in the low 20s during the day, with wind chills sinking into the single digits. The weather forecast early this morning indicates that brisk northwest winds gusting around 25 mph will accompany the frigid conditions.
The National Weather Service states, "Calendar day highs were likely reached at midnight (25F here at LWX) and will hover in the low 20s all day." Furthermore, as the center of the Arctic high pressure continues to build overhead tonight, residents are advised to prepare for bitterly cold conditions, with temperatures plummeting to single digits and, in some areas, falling below zero. The severe cold spell is poised to render our breath visible and possibly set a new record for low daily temperatures by Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Moving into the mid-week, the NWS suggests that clouds will rapidly increase Tuesday with a few flurries possible as shortwave energy moves across the area associated with central CONUS trof. Although the southern half of St. Mary's County may see some of the main precipitation, the chances remain slim, with only a 20 percent probability forecasted for the region. The gripping cold is expected to ease slightly by the end of the week, with daytime highs on Wednesday struggling to outstrip the mid-teens and, as per the forecast, warm air advection aloft beginning Wednesday night into Thursday.
For those looking toward the weekend for respite, the NWS indicates a slight warming trend, with temperatures expected to climb into the 20s and 30s by Thursday afternoon. However, residents should still prepare to weather another bout of snow, as there is a potential for another quick shot of snow Thursday into Friday. This prediction is shadowed by some uncertainty, with recent guidance suggesting that the low-pressure system responsible may pass to the south and east of the area.
The aviation sector isn't exempt from the cold's clutches either. The Arctic conditions are expected to impose "brisk NW winds today gusting up to about 25 kt" on the region's airspace, as the National Weather Service reported. These winds are forecasted to subside tonight to less than 10 kt, still under the tyranny of the cold. Marine conditions also reflect the harsh weather, with a Small Craft Advisory in effect through tonight, underscored by a Freezing Spray Advisory that persisted throughout the day.