Baltimore residents should prepare for a damp and potentially disruptive weekend, as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Watch effective from this afternoon through the evening. The forecast points to a stalled frontal boundary that's all but promised to serve up some serious precipitation, with heavy showers and thunderstorms particularly likely in the afternoon and evening.
While it’s not expected to be a continuous deluge this weekend, with breaks of sun expected especially in the morning hours, the placement of the front will be key for spotting where the highest likelihood of thunderstorms will occur. According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC's early morning discussion, "Convection to fire across the Alleghenies and Blue Ridge mid-afternoon before pushing eastward into the I-95 corridor and points east late afternoon into the early evening hours." The heat will be slightly moderated by the cloud cover with highs ranging from the mid 70s to the mid 80s.
Heat and humidity are staples of Baltimore summers, but this coming week promises to crank them up a notch further. Looking ahead to the workweek, the NWS expects that temperatures will sit at or above average. As the front goes après-ski northwards around Tuesday and Wednesday, a warm air invasion is forecasted with a strong cold front anticipated to make its grand entrance late next week. This pattern suggests a roller coaster of atmospheric moods with noise-like thunderstorms on Wednesday, then the curtain rising on a heat index possibly reaching the centennial mark by Thursday.
In the midst of all this atmospheric agitation, the National Weather Service also forecasts sub-VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions for aviation enthusiasts and professionals alike. "Scattered showers, low clouds, fog, and drizzle continue across the terminals this morning."
For mariners, sailing through this weekend might require some extra caution, as the weather pattern brings an alternating wind ballet and the chance of thundershowers. While Sunday and Monday might offer a brief respite with fewer stormy interludes and easterly breezes, one thing’s certain: Baltimore is set to experience the full spectrum of early summer weather over the course of the next week.
