Residents of Baltimore and its surrounding regions brace for a wintry mix and potential flooding as an intricate weather system unfolds this weekend. According to the National Weather Service, a high-pressure settling over the Ohio River Valley will move offshore on Saturday, giving way to a developing low-pressure system over the Mississippi River Valley. This spells an increase in clouds tonight, and with warmer airs moving in aloft quickly, any accumulations of snow or sleet should be minimal.
The weather transition from clear skies to precipitation spreading across the region on Saturday will not be subtle. How swiftly temperatures adjust tonight could be the determining factor in the onset of icy conditions. The National Weather Service indicates a "snow/sleet mix possible briefly at onset for many areas along and west of I-95," highlighting the fleeting nature of these wintry conditions as the warm front makes a slow northerly climb.
Saturday brings increasing risks for travelers as freezing rain becomes more probable. The forecast suggests a potential need for watches shortly. Warm air overhead will unleash rains as heavy as half to three-quarters of an inch through Sunday. High temperatures after the initial freeze might stretch into the upper 50s to near 60 degrees in some pockets on Sunday afternoon, a stark jump from the previous day's lows.
A rapid transformation to colder conditions awaits post-Sunday, as temperatures are forecast to take a nosedive following the cold front, plummeting into the lower to mid-30s by evening. A gusty west-to-northwest wind is expected to evolve behind frontal passage later Sunday into Sunday night, the advisory warns, suggesting potential wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph that persist through the night and might be higher at times. These gusts could surpass 40 mph in the mountains, paired with additional upslope snow accumulations.
In the new week, Gusty winds should gradually subside by Monday, while temperatures will remain almost 20 degrees chillier. The high pressure behind the cold front is expected to entrench itself, bringing continued below-average temperatures through Wednesday. Attention then turns to potential snow Wednesday night into Thursday, with the forecaster promising more details as this period approaches.
The impending mixed bag of weather has prompted the Service to issue a series of advisories, including a Flood Watch in effect from late Saturday night through Sunday afternoon for several Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia counties. The melting of existing ground snow and ensuing runoff raises the specter of flooding, which could be exacerbated should warmer temperatures or heavier rainfall come to pass.
For those navigating the waters, the Marine forecast indicates a gradual decrease in northwest winds today, with a Gale Watch on the horizon from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon. The coming days will test the readiness of the mid-Atlantic's residents and its waters.,
