Baltimore residents can brace themselves for a mix of clouds, sun, and scattered storms today as the weather takes a transitional turn. According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC's latest Area Forecast Discussion, the city is positioned east of a weakening high-pressure system while a warm front stays put in the north. This means locals can expect an uptick in both sunshine and thunderstorm activity, particularly to the west of the Blue Ridge this afternoon and into the evening.
The report warns of "anomalously high PWATs for this time of year," which spells the potential for heavy downpours amidst the thunderstorms. However, despite the recent deluge on September 20th, when regions west of Baltimore experienced anywhere from 1.50-4 inches of rainfall, the NWS suggests that the risk of flooding remains low. This sentiment was echoed by the service's assurance that severe weather does not appear to be a concern, nor is the issue of flooding given recent drought issues.
Looking forward, the Baltimore region is not out of the woods yet as a cold front is set to loom over the area midweek. This translates to increased rain chances, with showers and thunderstorms likely to maintain a scattered presence on Tuesday, becoming more widespread on Wednesday. While the severe weather threat remains subdued, waterlogged conditions may persist, offering a silver lining to the drought-concerned areas.
On the temperature front, highs are expected to hover in the comfortable upper 70s to mid-80s range, offering residents a brief respite from the peak summer heat. Nights will see the mercury drop into the upper 50s to mid-60s. In terms of travel, for those taking to the skies, predominantly VFR conditions are predicted for today, though the rest of the week may see increased sub-VFR conditions due to the persistent front and potential showers.
As for the waters surrounding Baltimore, calm conditions are on the cards until Thursday, when the wind picks up again, coming back to the mariners' attention. Boaters are advised to watch for isolated to scattered thunderstorms from Wednesday through Friday, which could disrupt nautical activities during the afternoons and evenings. Finally, some coastal areas might need to brace for flooding due to increased tidal anomalies, with Coastal Flood Advisories already in effect for places like Annapolis going into Tuesday.
