Baltimore is headed for a warm, partly sunny Thursday, but the calm will not last through the night. Temperatures should climb from the mid-70s to near 89 degrees before showers and thunderstorms become more likely late Thursday.
Hot Afternoon Gives Way To Overnight Storms
A few showers could linger before 9 a.m., followed by a drier and brighter afternoon with west winds around 8 mph. The National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington office says showers and thunderstorms may develop primarily from midafternoon into the overnight period, with confidence increasing from the afternoon into the evening.
Rainfall accumulation estimates are not provided. The overall severe-weather risk appears limited, but an isolated stronger storm could still bring gusty winds or briefly heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service.
The latest timing is a meaningful shift from the earlier Baltimore forecast, which had focused more heavily on Thursday afternoon storms. The updated outlook now puts the wettest stretch later in the evening, giving outdoor plans a better shot during the afternoon but making late-night travel less predictable.
Heat And Flooding Context
The heat ahead of the storms still warrants attention. According to the Baltimore City Health Department, residents can call 311 for current cooling-center locations, heat-safety tips and information about warning signs during a Code Red alert; open Pratt Library locations are also available for relief during normal business hours. Warning signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke include confusion, lightheadedness, nausea and unusually hot or clammy skin, and the department advises calling 911 when they occur. For broader context—not a measure of Thursday's conditions—Maryland Matters, citing the Maryland Department of Health dashboard, reported that data through July 25 showed 38 heat-related deaths, 1,627 emergency-room or urgent-care visits and 1,242 emergency-medical-service calls in Maryland that year. Brief heavy rain can also create problems in the city even when the broader severe-weather threat is limited. Baltimore City Department of Public Works records say the city's primarily pre-1950 storm-drain system includes 1,146 miles of pipes, 52,438 inlets, 27,561 manholes and 1,709 outfalls; many historic streams, including Harris Creek and Gwynns Run, were buried or covered during development. A separate National Weather Service account of the Sept. 7, 2011, remnants-of-Tropical-Storm Lee event documented rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour from Charles County into Baltimore County, causing high-water rescues, road closures and flooded homes. That separate history does not predict what Thursday's storms will do.
Friday Turns Cooler Before A Stormy Weekend
Friday should feel noticeably cooler, with a high near 83 and a chance of showers before 8 a.m. Skies will be cloudy initially but gradually become mostly sunny, while Friday night looks quieter and partly cloudy with a low around 68.
Saturday starts mostly cloudy, with showers and thunderstorms possible by afternoon and a stronger chance of storms Saturday night. Sunday stays warm near 86, but showers and thunderstorms are likely before the weather pattern finally settles down.
Monday looks like the best bet for primarily dry weather, with mostly sunny skies and a high in the upper 70s to low 80s. Another warmup arrives Wednesday, when temperatures could reach the upper 80s to low 90s and precipitation chances increase by midweek.
Baltimore City has no active weather alerts in the latest forecast, though a coastal flood advisory for Annapolis was scheduled to expire at 8 a.m. Thursday. Anyone heading toward the waterfront early should allow extra caution around elevated water levels.
