Baltimore residents are battening down the hatches as a Gale Warning is now in effect for the waters surrounding the city, excluding just the Upper Tidal Potomac, which remains under a Small Craft Advisory, as reported by the National Weather Service. With cold and blustery conditions dominating the weather landscape, mountain areas are preparing for snow showers, and even the possibility of light snow showers late Friday morning into early afternoon across Northern Virginia and north-central Maryland, though this forecast remains on the fringe of likelihood.
According to the latest bulletin from the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, the area is experiencing strong cold advection underway within west-northwesterly low-level flow. With gusts reaching 25-35 mph and temperatures rapidly plummeting, residents should brace for a chilly day with sporadic icy spots, especially if some of the residual moisture fails to evaporate and refreezes. Dry conditions are predicted east of the Alleghenies, with sunny breaks possibly emerging from Central Virginia to Southern Maryland.
Heading into the weekend, an uptick in disturbances could lead to dangerous wind chills and wintry weather at times, the National Weather Service cautions. While the high elevations could see additional snowfall late Friday night into Saturday morning, valley regions have a slim chance for rain or wet snow Saturday morning, transforming to rain by afternoon with little expected accumulation. A looming system along the East Coast introduces some uncertainty into early next week's forecasts, with the potential for accumulating snow across parts of the region.
On the aviation front, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions will persist through Monday, with temporary gusts to 20-30 knots possibly hampering air travel. Mariners should expect high-end SCA level winds throughout today, followed by Gale forces tonight across wider waters, according to the National Weather Service. As the upcoming cold front moves through late Saturday, additional marine advisories might be called for amidst the shift to westerly flow expected to continue into early next week.
