Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Could Disrupt Early Holiday Travel In MD

A cross-country storm system is expected to bring heavy rain, gusty winds and possible thunderstorms to parts of Maryland later this week, which could snarl early holiday travel plans, according to the latest forecasts.

The storm will track from the Mississippi Valley toward the Atlantic Seaboard between Wednesday and Thursday, AccuWeather forecasters wrote on Wednesday. Ahead of the storm, warmer conditions will return to Maryland, with highs in the 40s and 50s through the end of the week.

Sadly, the warmer temperatures won't last long, as the new storm system is expected to move into the state late Thursday afternoon ahead of an incoming cold front.

According to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, showers will start around 4 or 5 p.m. on Thursday.

In its latest forecast, the National Weather Service said rain is likely to continue through Thursday evening and into the overnight hours, and could become heavy by early Friday morning. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible on Friday, forecasters said.

Marylanders should also expect strong winds Thursday night into Friday, with gusts reaching more than 30 mph.

Ahead of the storm, the National Weather Service issued a broad gale warning for Atlantic waters off the Maryland coast. By Thursday night, winds off the coast could reach 30 to 40 knots, or 35 to 46 mph, with swells peaking at 16 feet by Friday morning.

The storm system is expected to exit the state to the east on Friday morning.

"Skies become partly to mostly sunny and winds turn gusty from the west with colder temperatures in the 40s," the Capital Weather Gang wrote. "A lingering breeze Friday evening should calm overnight. Lows dip into the colder 20s under mostly clear skies."

Here's a look at the detailed National Weather Service forecast for the region:

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Light and variable wind.

Thursday: A chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 43. South wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. South wind 13 to 18 mph becoming west in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.