The Baltimore and Washington, DC area is looking at a slice of calm after the storm, with National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC forecasting a brief intervention of weak high pressure. This weather pattern is expected to usher in some desperately needed sunny spells and drier air today and into Saturday, following the soggy saga left behind by Erin. Temperatures will be on a slight downward tilt, as they're forecasted to loiter in the low to mid 80s, somewhat cooler than what's usually on the menu for this time of year.
But don’t let the sun deceive you, as the region is grappling with a hangover of high tides, causing coastal flooding concerns. There's talk of a 'snap-back' event that'll likely raise the water levels even higher, leading into Saturday. Moderate coastal flooding is likely at Annapolis and widespread minor coastal flooding elsewhere, said the latest National Weather Service bulletin, spelling out concerns for the DC Waterfront, Alexandria, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace. Travelers hoping to sink their toes in Delaware's sandy beaches this weekend are cautioned to stay vigilant against the rip currents that won't likely let up until after the weekend’s waning hours.
Boaters looking to navigate Chesapeake’s brackish blues should be aware that Small Craft Advisories were in effect until early this morning. As conditions are expected to simmer down post Erin, sailors can expect lighter northerly winds through today. With the upcoming front, southerly winds are expected to whip up around 15 to 20 knots on Saturday afternoon, potentially leading to another stint of advisories for the mid-to-lower bay waters.
The upcoming forecast shows no rest for the weary, with a cold front set to bulldoze the area Sunday into Monday, possibly sparking severe thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms, possibly severe, are expected Sunday into Sunday night, the NWS indicates, highlighting a small but significant risk for the western areas along US-15. On the heels of the cold front, a Canadian high-pressure dome promises to gift-wrap a ribbon of dry, cooler days for the start of the following week, despite the incursion of sporadic cloud cover.
As for those with wings, the aviation outlook is clear after this morning's cloud cover breaks, with VFR conditions expected across regional airfields. The southerly winds and potential thunderstorms on Sunday could lead to restrictions, yet stability and visibility should reign from Monday onwards. While today offers a placid pause in the atmosphere's tumult, the capricious nature of regional weather insists that we remain tethered to updates as we traverse the tides of both the bay and the skies.
