Wednesday is starting sticky in Baltimore, especially near the Inner Harbor, where early temperatures are hovering around 65°F. By afternoon, forecasters expect sunny skies and a hot high near 90°F, with southwest winds gusting around 20 mph - the kind of setup that makes it feel a lot hotter than a typical April day. The unseasonable heat is expected to hang on through Thursday before a stronger cold front rolls in late this weekend and flips the switch to a much cooler pattern.
Afternoon Outlook And Boating Advisory
If you are heading out on the water, brace for a rougher ride. A Small Craft Advisory is up for the Chesapeake Bay's main channel from mid-afternoon into the evening, with small vessels likely to encounter gusty southerly winds and steeper waves. Onshore, southwest winds of 2 to 13 mph with higher gusts will help drive temperatures into the upper 80s to low 90s. Rain chances sit around 5 percent, so it is shaping up to be a dry heat rather than a stormy one.
What Forecasters Are Warning
Forecasters say this run of near-record April warmth will hold through Thursday, with much of Baltimore and nearby counties pushing into the upper 80s to low 90s and nights staying very warm, offering little relief. The mix of low afternoon humidity, gusty southwest winds, and drying fuels is creating an elevated fire-weather risk through Saturday, and Thursday could come close to Red Flag criteria in the hardest-hit spots. Scattered, low-coverage showers or storms may pop up Thursday night into Friday before a stronger cold front moves in Saturday night into Sunday and drags temperatures down into the 50s early next week, according to the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington.
How To Plan
Shift heavy outdoor work or workouts to the morning or evening, keep water and shade within easy reach, and tie down or bring in any lightweight patio furniture or gear before the afternoon gusts pick up. If you are boating, double-check local marine advisories before departure, and revisit when April heat cranked up and Bay winds kicked off for added context - today’s forecast mainly sharpens the timing and heightens the fire-weather concern.
