The chill of winter settles in as Baltimore braces itself for a frosty period ahead. High-pressure today ushers in a temporary clarity before another clipper system is slated to deliver a fresh coating of snow and a drop in the mercury Friday, the National Weather Service in Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC, stated in its latest weather bulletin. Recovering from gusts that could strip warmth from any bundled passerby, we edge into a weekend that promises mountain snow showers and even more biting cold, with brief relief anticipated on Saturday.
Winds will gradually decrease throughout the day, but not before forcing us to endure gusts that reach 20 to 30 mph in the early afternoon. "Clouds will increase this evening and tonight ahead of the next clipper-type system," per the National Weather Service. Temperatures today chase a modest peak – lower 20s west of the Alleghenies to middle to upper 30s and lower 40s near and east toward the metros. Tonight’s lows will skate back into cooler territory, spanning the lower to middle 20s to the west and middle to upper 20s to the east.
Friday could spell trouble for travelers, and not just in the higher elevations. As snow probabilities climb in the mountains Friday morning, they're expected to cascade east, potentially swathing the metro areas in a light, cold blanket by the afternoon and evening hours. Warnings take shape with anticipation as winter storm watches remain in effect for Garrett, western Grant, and western Pendleton counties early Friday into early Saturday morning, and snow showers might grace other regions during the Friday commute. However, accumulations are forecasted to be under one inch.
Saturday night’s calm prefaces a Sunday fraught with a more substantial troublemaker – a potent low-pressure system barreling in from the west, threatening widespread wintry weather that could extend into the early new week. As the National Weather Service elaborates, "Precipitation onset could be anywhere from Sunday afternoon until late Sunday night," with icy mixtures and snow on the treacherous menu. The forthcoming week's outlook lurks below normative temperatures and carries the potential for more snow showers, especially come Wednesday.
In aviation news, air travel is likely also to feel turbulence with the anticipated weather. Forecasted conditions suggest varying visibilities, from higher bouts of clarity to more pressing concerns of sub-VFR episodes as the clipper system lands on Friday. The National Weather Service warned of potential impacts on flights, with high confidence for snow affecting regions west of KMRB and some impact probably over the corridor Friday afternoon and evening. Moreover, the upcoming low-pressure system might serve up wintry mix pizza for the aircraft late Sunday into Monday, causing further complications and multi-layered precipitation types, especially at CHO.
Mariners navigate choppy waters, too, with continued advisories for strong west-to-northwest winds, including the Small Craft Advisory, which is in effect until early Friday. The winds will diminish but pick up once again with the oncoming system, potentially escalating to Gale-force by Saturday, the National Weather Service warns. A slight reprieve could be foreseen on Sunday, but agitations are expected to persist as the week starts.
