Baltimore residents, brace yourselves for a bone-chilling weekend. The National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC forecasts a significant winter storm with high confidence from Saturday into Sunday. Prepare for a mix of snow and ice, though the exact amounts of each remain uncertain, particularly south and east of the city. If you've got weekend plans, it's probably a good idea to rethink them.
Folks, don't underestimate the big freeze coming your way. Friday is likely the last day with even a semblance of warmth before the weekend's storm. Temperature-wise, Saturday's highs might barely escape the teens, and that's before you factor in the snowfall expected to start Saturday night. Frigid temperatures are looking like a virtual certainty this weekend into early next week, the forecast discussion notes. This cold is not messing around – we're talking single-digit lows. And let's not even get started on the wind chill. On mountain fronts, it could drop to the negative teens. Your best bet? Stay inside.
The weekend forecast aside, the Alleghenies are already gearing up for some snow action. By late this afternoon through Thursday morning, they're expected to see accumulation. This comes with a warm-cold front one-two punch that could bring about "a dusting-3" of snow along the western-facing slopes," according to local experts. It might affect the high-rises more with "localized 2-4" of snow above 2800 feet" in the works. So, for anyone traveling those routes—drive with care.
For the mariners among us, be wary of choppy waters. The weather outlook suggests Small Craft Advisory conditions with gusts hitting 20-25 knots as early as this afternoon and into the night. Those conditions will probably hang in there going into the weekend, so if you're planning to take the boat out, perhaps think twice.
As the storm front moves closer, Baltimore's aviation could experience significant disruptions. VFR conditions will hold up until Saturday morning, but expect IFR conditions to come into play as snowfall commences. Consider rebooking if you have air travel plans. The National Weather Service warns travelers that with the brunt of the precipitation, the weekend conditions might not just disrupt your plans; it could be a full-on spanner in the works.
