According to the National Weather Service, Baltimore, MD/Washington DC, is bracing for a slog of rain and potential flooding as a strong low-pressure system moves across the region. The weather outlook predicts persistent showers and a significant shift in wind patterns that may disrupt land and marine activities into the weekend.
For the landlubbers, ongoing light rain is expected to escalate due to a "decaying MCS," which will introduce rainfall around the pre-dawn hours in areas including West Virginia and southwest Virginia, with increased intensity around metro regions during the morning commute, the National Weather Service reported. Flood watches remain in place for parts of western Maryland, extending into Mineral and western Grant counties until late tonight. Hydrologic issues remain concerning, given the "excessive rains of last week." The Service warns that 2 to 3 inches of rain could accumulate in the area due to the stalled front and conflicting easterly and westerly flows.
With temperatures dipping well below average, highs are anticipated to hover in the upper 50s to 60s, accompanied by thick clouds and east-southeasterly gusts potentially reaching up to 20 to 25 mph, particularly to the east of the Blue Ridge and Catoctins. The chilling breeze and impending downpours are set to tackle the ongoing drought issues, albeit at the cost of comfortable spring temperatures.
Mariners aren't in for smooth sailing either. Advisory-level east-southeasterly winds are forecasted to rise to 20-25 knots today across all waters, with a slight chance of near gale-force gusts over the middle bay. However, according to the National Weather Service, the inversion poses some uncertainties on how forcefully the wind might punch through. The coastal rendezvous of high pressure to the north and low pressure to the south intensifies the easterly winds through Thursday morning, prompting a coastal flood advisory for Annapolis for the next two high tides.
The weather narrative remains somber as we turn the calendar page towards the weekend. The upper low is expected to continue its eastward journey, bringing additional rain showers and isolated thunderstorms on Thursday, especially if any break in the clouds allows sunshine to peek through. Daytime heating and destabilization interaction could roust cloud cover and shower activity Friday afternoon. And it's a similar script for aviators; models indicate a dive from MVFR to IFR conditions through Wednesday morning, with potential improvement to MVFR conditions in the middle of the day or early afternoon.
Looking towards Saturday, the long-term forecast holds a slim chance for stray showers near the Pennsylvania border, with persistent gusty northwest winds. Showers may return ahead of a northward-lifting warm front by Sunday, introducing a return of sub-VFR conditions.
