Bomb Cyclone To Hit MD With 55 MPH Winds, Arctic Cold

A bomb cyclone will batter the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area on Monday, packing powerful wind gusts and an extreme temperature fluctuation, according to the National Weather Service.

A wind advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday, and a hazardous weather outlook is posted for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

The wind advisory is in effect for most of the area through late Monday evening, with gusts up to 55 mph possible. Isolated wind damage resulting in some power outages are forecast.

The bomb cyclone will cause a sudden, drastic drop in air pressure Monday morning, with temperatures rising to 55 by around noon and then plummeting all the way down to the mid-20s by the evening. The storm will bring with it severe winds, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour and sustained wind of 25 miles per hour, making it feel significantly colder at times, forecasters said.

At 1 p.m. the temperature in Baltimore was 56 degrees, but it is expected to drop to 39 by 5 p.m., the National Weather Service said. The overnight low should be around 26 degrees.

"The strongest (wind) activity locally will occur from about noon (west) through 5 or 6 p.m., though winds will stay feisty into the night," said The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

On New Year’s Day there is a chance of light rain and/or snow showers, the Post said. No accumulation expected.

The storm will bring with it a slight chance of snow after 1 a.m. Wednesday night, with blustery conditions expected throughout the week.

"Such strong winds will lead to power outages, downed tree limbs and airborne holiday decorations," Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said.

Here's the Maryland forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 39 by 5pm. Windy, with a west wind 24 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Breezy, with a west wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Southwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

New Year's Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 35.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.