As Pittsburgh weathers a weather seesaw, the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC has released a forecast indicating a warm front pushing northward this morning, followed closely by a strong cold front this evening. This rollercoaster is expected to deliver an eclectic mix of mountain snow showers and a temperature tumble, as well as additional precipitation midweek. Reports suggest that we are set to experience high pressure and a return of sunny skies towards the end of the week and heading into the next weekend.
Today's unyielding warm front is set to trigger showers, with a few thunderous outbursts over southern Maryland in the early hours. This activity is forecast to move northeast, showering the Baltimore metro by mid to late morning before scattering away by lunchtime. Despite the cloud cover, temperatures are expected to rise into the mid-60s to low 70s, with mountain areas notably cooler. The evening hours anticipate a dance of lingering light rain, as a weak coastal wave forms in the wake of the cold front, mainly affecting areas east of U.S. 15.
For the brave souls living on or traversing the Alleghenies, prepare to bundle up, as the post-frontal windows will gust mightily, reaching up to 30 to 40 mph in elevation. This gusty companionship will accompany an evening and overnight evolution of precipitation from rain showers to a rain/snow mix, and eventually to all snow. Those at higher altitudes could wake up Monday morning to a fresh covering of half an inch to an inch of snow. According to the National Weather Service, the chilled cities east of the Blue Ridge will settle into forecast lows in the upper 30s to mid-40s, with the mountains plunging into the 20s.
Commencing the work week, the forecast throws in below-average temperatures and stiff breezes. The west-northwesterly winds promise additional snow showers along/west of the Alleghenies, with an accumulation of another 1 to 3 inches possible on Monday into Monday night. Winter Weather Advisories now stand as a potential necessity, as certain models vastly inflate snowfall predictions over select regions. The burly airs don't stop there, for Tuesday, they forecast to become gustier still, ramping up wind chills into the single digits across mountainous alignments.
The marine outlook is hardly more placid, with initial winds tamer but expected to swell into Small Craft Advisory levels upon the cold front's passage. Gale conditions are forecast to unfurl over the southern waters from late Monday night into Tuesday. The week ahead isn't looking any easier for vessels, with Small Craft Advisories likely extending into Wednesday and Thursday, as back-to-back quick-moving fronts pass through with gusts of 20-30 knots reported each day.
