The National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington has issued a Wind Advisory for the region, warning of west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. The advisory, in effect from 9 AM this morning to 1 AM EST tomorrow, encompasses a vast area including DC, central and southern Maryland, and parts of northern and northwest Virginia. According to the NWS, the strong winds could blow around unsecured objects, down tree limbs, and cause isolated power outages.
Travel could become perilous, particularly for high-profile vehicles due to the blustery conditions. The NWS advised to "use extra caution," as these strong winds could make driving difficult. Showers are also likely today, mainly between 10am and noon, with a forecasted temperature drop to around 39 degrees by the evening. Winds are expected to continue being a nuisance through the day, possibly gusting as high as 48 mph tonight with a low temperature near 26 degrees.
In addition to the Wind Advisory, a Gale Warning is in effect for the waters through late this evening. This includes the upper Tidal Potomac River from Key Bridge to Indian Head and the Chesapeake Bay from North of Pooles Island to North Beach. The Hazardous Weather Outlook provided by the NWS also flags this condition into tomorrow for those particular waterways.
The forecast for the following days indicates a slight chance of snow after 1am Wednesday night, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 27 degrees. The outlook for New Year's Day remains mostly cloudy, with highs near 35. The NWS has called on spotters to report any wind damage, as the forecast continues to show strong winds that may cause isolated wind damage across northeastern Maryland tomorrow.
