The Baltimore area is in for a mix of cloud cover and breezy conditions today as a high from the southwest builds in. According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, while the winds are expected to be less intense than yesterday, gusts might reach up to 20 to 25 mph, and an increase in clouds throughout the day is forecasted, especially across western areas due to an approaching trough, the possibility of a few light showers across the Alleghenies tonight has not been ruled out. Today's temperatures are pegged for the upper 50s to low 60s, with cooler conditions by tonight when temperatures could drop to the 30s, potentially leading to frost in areas where the growing season is still active, prompting the need for advisories.
Looking towards Sunday and into the start of the week, more cloudiness is anticipated, particularly west of the Blue Ridge as an upper-level trough approaches. A surface low is expected to develop off the Mid-Atlantic coast Sunday night, which might extend precipitation up to southern Maryland into Monday morning, although totals should remain below a quarter inch if the low trends further northwest, closer to D.C. There's a possibility for the expansion of the rain shield Sunday night. Despite the low pressure system trailing off northeast by Monday, leading to a taper in precipitation, slight chance precipitation probabilities (PoPs) have been maintained along and east of I-95 for most of Monday, but this could vary based on the actual track of the low, high pressure is expected to briefly build overhead causing cooler temperatures tonight with lows dipping into the 30s for most locales, meanwhile, next week looks mostly seasonable and calm as Tuesday welcomes high pressure with mostly sunny skies and a chance for frost overnight.
In terms of aviation, VFR conditions dominate today and Sunday under high pressure's influence, but airport terminals, excluding CHO, should see continued elevated winds around 10 knots gusting to 20/25 kts, calming later tonight. Into next week, VFR conditions should prevail with potential gusts around 20 to 25 knots from the northwest on Tuesday. Marine operations are likely to see extended Small Craft Advisory conditions until mid-afternoon today on northern bay zones due to 20-25 kt gusts, while more tranquil conditions settle overnight and into Sunday with perhaps another SCA flirtation into Monday night behind a cold front as winds turn westerly.
The National Weather Service's long-term forecast points to high pressure building back in for a stretch next week with highs consistently in the upper 50s to mid 60s for most parts (upper 40s to low 50s mountains) and no major shifts are expected in the weather pattern as we head towards the weekend, with mostly clear conditions barring a weak cold front passing through Wednesday night that's expected to bring a surge of winds but leaving the atmosphere largely undisturbed.
