Baltimore residents can look forward to a brief respite from winter's grasp as the National Weather Service predicts a few degrees above normal temperatures today. According to the latest forecast, temperatures today will run a few degrees above normal, with highs in the mid to upper 40s for most (30s mountains). As the low pressure pulls away and high pressure builds to our south, we are set to experience diminishing winds and an uptick in sun exposure, especially around noon. While today's weather offers a gentle sigh of relief from the chill, expect the overnight lows to hover in the mid-20s to lower 30s.
The short-term forecast suggests that Baltimore will continue to enjoy relatively calm and mild conditions through Tuesday. However, as Wednesday approaches, so does an upper trough, which seems determined to abruptly dig southward across the region. This movement is likely to cause an increase in cloud cover and the potential for showers, particularly in the west. The weather, remaining dry on Tuesday, may bring high clouds will be on the increase, especially during the afternoon hours, yet still southerly winds will lead to mild conditions, with highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s (mid 40s mountains), as described by the National Weather Service.
Looking toward the latter half of the week, conditions are expected to change significantly. The developing upper trough will set the stage for snow in the Alleghenies come Wednesday night, with a few inches of accumulation possible. Lower elevations, however, could see a rain-snow mix developing by Thursday morning. It's all due to the upper low that will continue its trek eastward across Ohio Wednesday night, culminating in colder air filtering in from the northwest and a potentially brisk Thursday to follow. Residents in mountainous areas should brace for precipitation in the Alleghenies will change over to snow with increasing moisture advects in from the south and large-scale ascent ahead of the trough starts to increase, the National Weather Service cautions.
For those taking to the skies or the waters, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions are expected to hold steady until Wednesday night, when increasingly inclement weather could lead to sub-VFR conditions and showers. Mariners should note that while the Small Craft Advisory has expired as of early this morning, there may be a renewal of similar advisories as we head into the mid-week period. In fact, potential gale conditions on Thursday night with SCA conditions on Friday were highlighted in a recent forecast update. Meanwhile, in the aviation sector, winds are still gusty out of the northwest early this morning, but will continue to decrease in magnitude through the remainder of the night, promising a smoother transition for air travel imminently.
With an ever-changing climate scene, Baltimore locals will need to keep a watchful eye on the skies as the week progresses. For continuous weather updates, I encourage you to visit the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC website.
