The Baltimore area is bracing for a series of weather shifts, starting with high pressure hovering over Quebec and spilling its effects into the local region. According to an early morning update from the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, a Frost Advisory has been canceled as "a light northeast wind is keeping temperatures in the upper 30s and lower 40s in northeastern Maryland." Citizens who were gearing up for a chilly morning can now expect a bit more of a temperate start to their day.
While the weather system jockeys for position, Baltimore residents can expect temperatures to remain cooler today, with the mercury hovering around the 50s – the sun may even make intermittent appearances for the northern portions of the area. Conversely, a coastal low will be trekking its way out to sea via a northeasterly path, and light showers might touch ground south of I-64 in Virginia and perhaps far southern Maryland, as detailed in the weather forecast. The night will see temperatures dipping back down to the mid-30s to mid-40s, and though precipitation could increase in the evening, any significant rain or winter mix is likely to pass uneventfully.
Wednesday through Thursday night spells a wetter tale for the Mid-Atlantic, though, with the service forecasting a retrograding low to the north eventually gets absorbed into a digging trough/closed low that moved across the Plains into the Tennessee Valley. This means widespread light showers on Wednesday, a shift to more persistent and probably heavier rain Wednesday night into Thursday, with the potential for some wintry mix turning to warm rain as the day progresses. For those venturing into the mountains, be advised of potential snow on the peaks as the system moves through.
Mariners and coastal residents need to be vigilant as well; the marine forecast indicates Small Craft Advisory conditions are in effect until 6 PM EDT Wednesday for ANZ530>534-536-537-539>543. This tells us that boaters should exercise caution in the waters, and with elevated northeasterly winds through Wednesday, coastal flooding issues may not be too far behind. As the low pressure makes its journey across the area, water levels are expected to crest, potentially triggering minor to moderate flooding in susceptible locations before rapidly declining by Friday.
In terms of air travel, the skies over Baltimore will largely maintain VFR conditions through this evening, but travelers should brace for potential disruptions as MVFR ceilings will spread across the rest of the area Wednesday, along with the potential for light rain showers, leading to more challenging weather conditions for aviation, with IFR ceilings and heavier rain likely by Wednesday night into Thursday. The silver lining, if there is one to be scoped out of the gray clouds, comes later in the week as weather conditions are set to improve post-Thursday, with diminishing winds and rainfall as the weekend approaches.
