Baltimore residents should brace for a flurry of weather changes this week, starting with light snowfall predicted by the National Weather Service. According to recent forecasts, this afternoon and evening will see modest snow, courtesy of a clipper-like system passing through the region. Only a trace to around half an inch of snow is expected, the Service notes, with some areas possibly not witnessing any precipitation. Meanwhile, temperature forecasts anticipate highs near the 40s south of the Potomac River, and mid-30s around the Pennsylvania border.
The weather conversation, however, doesn't end with a light snow dusting; an Arctic front is on deck to make its entrance come Friday, and it's hauling chances for snow, followed by a blast of bitter cold wind chills. In a winter that sees the see-sawing temperatures Baltimore has become accustomed to, it’s no simple task to keep winter coats at the ready, with Friday's arrival creating just another wardrobe challenge for the embattled east coaster. Snow showers and/or squalls are becoming increasingly likely areawide Friday afternoon and evening before the Arctic frontal passage, as described in the National Weather Service forecast, setting the stage for a frigid weekend and the possibility of winter advisories.
More urgent concerns emerge as the Weather Service projects the Arctic front to bring potentially damaging winds late Friday night into Saturday, a scenario that could lead to widespread power outages. Marine conditions will also be treacherous, with gale to storm force winds anticipated over the waters, creating a trepidatious period for mariners. Global models indicate strong sfc cyclone genesis over the western Atlantic in response to a deepening trough over the Northeast, which points to the detailed forecast, hinting at the strength of the approaching weather pattern.
For those flying out of Baltimore, the conditions could impose delays or cancellations, as light snow this evening may result in flight restrictions, with gusty winds following on Wednesday and Thursday. By the week's end, airlines will likely reckon with the Arctic front's snow showers and potent wind gusts, possibly interfering with travel schedules. Snow showers are possible Friday afternoon and evening, followed by sharply colder temperatures and abrupt winds likely gusting over 35 kt or stronger, advises the National Weather Service, flagging the need for passengers to check before they trek to the airport.
Baltimore is no stranger to capricious winters, and locals know to take each warning with a grain of salt—or perhaps, a shovel of snow. For the moment, the winter weather advisory applies only to certain elevated areas, with the rest of the region remaining on watch. On the lookout as Baltimoreans are for the mercurial moods of Mother Nature, it is clear that this winter, there is yet another chapter to be written in ice crystals and howling winds.
