Baltimore residents are waking up to extreme cold this morning, with Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories in effect until 10 AM EST. The National Weather Service advises caution as blustery conditions persist, although the winds should begin to die down through the afternoon, keeping wind chills above zero for most areas.
The frigid grip is forecasted to loosen over the Mid-Atlantic as surface high pressure builds up today through Monday. While gusty winds may linger in northeast Maryland, necessitating additional advisories, the rest of Baltimore will likely escape the brunt of the chill. The temperatures are expected to moderate: "High temperatures on Monday will be in the 30s for most with higher elevations staying in the 20s," and by Tuesday, the forecast suggests parts of the area could see numbers reaching "into the upper 30s to 40s," as per the National Weather Service.
A shift later in the week might bring wintry mixes to the area. The pattern change brings multiple shortwaves that may lead to precipitation. The overall surface pattern does show high pressure building in from the Great Lakes while a wavy frontal zone arcs along the southern U.S., pointed out by the National Weather Service. Despite a dry trend for Wednesday, chances for a rain and snow mix remain low-end probabilities for the late week into the weekend.
Travelers should also prepare for potential disruptions. Airports continue to experience gusty northwest winds with conditions expected to remain VFR through Tuesday. Mariners, on the other hand, should note the Gale Warning in effect until early this morning, with a transition to Small Craft Advisories as the winds taper off. The NWS warns of blowout tides and possible water level drops of up to -2FT MLLW north of the Bay Bridge and in the upper tidal Potomac River, with Low Water Advisories in place for all waters.
