The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC rolled out an early-bird forecast at 3:57 AM EST today, giving us a heads up on what's ahead. A cold front tied to a clipper system kissed us goodbye this morning as it galloped into the Atlantic. More drama on the weather front seems imminent—with another zippy frontal system set to sneak by south of us come Friday.
Those venturing out into the Western Maryland highlands today might've been able to spot wind-buffeted, snow-coated scenes, as blizzard warnings were stamped on Garrett, Pendleton, and Grant counties until 10 AM. According to the National Weather Service discussion, traffic cams and other eyes on the ground suggest a possible downgrade to Winter Weather Advisories ahead of schedule. The advisories echo until 7 AM for the eastern end of Garrett and the western reaches of Highland counties, reminding those on the road to keep their winter wits about them.
Looking past the mountain mayhem, the forecast promises an upward swing in sunshine around lunchtime, but not without below-average temps and a hearty serving of northwesterly winds. With the mercury expected to bob just around the freezing mark, it's wise to layer up and possibly tape down any loose bits that might get caught in the gusts, which could top out around 25 to 30 mph, hitting even harder at 40 mph if you're on the Allegheny ridges. It's an almost warm-and-fuzzy thought that the sun will be out, but wind chills could take you on a dive into the single digits if you're up higher.
Turn the page to Friday and Saturday, and it's as if the weather gods just can’t quite to seem to make up their minds. A slurry of snow could grace the Alleghenies and possibly swing as far as the I-64 corridor. The Baltimore and D.C. metro areas get to flirt with a 20 to 30 percent chance of light snow. But don't hold your breath—forecasters are keeping the snow potential on a tight leash, with chances better on the peaks and south of the city limits. Temperatures, stubborn and chilly, will lounge in the 30s and 20s, doing their best to ignore the clouds rolling in, handing us mostly cloudy skies and plotting an encore for wintry precip in the hills come Friday night.
Those with their sea legs set for outings on the Chesapeake might find themselves cursing the winds, with Small Craft Advisories flagged until this evening due to gusts of 20 to 30 knots, as noted by the National Weather Service. Moving into the weekend, sailors can expect a respite with less testy winds dominating the landscape until Sunday's cold front potentially ushers in windier conditions that might escalate quickly to gale force.
In the air, aviators can look forward to generally VFR conditions through tonight, although Friday's passing system could sprinkle some light snow, particularly toward the south, potentially leading to cloud-induced logistical hiccups. Expect more navigational challenges by late Saturday night as the next bout of weather rolls in hot on snow's heels.
