Hurricane Ian: How Could The Storm Affect MD?

MARYLAND — Wind damage, storm surges and flash floods are expected in Florida late Tuesday and Wednesday as Hurricane Ian travels toward the southeastern United States. Ian is also likely to upgrade to a Category 4 storm, the National Hurricane Center said.

But will Maryland ever see the effects of the weather system?

Forecasters across the board said it is too early to be certain. Experts at the National Weather Service think heavy rainfall may be possible when the storm system reaches the mid-Atlantic.

"A great deal of uncertainty [remains] regarding the track of Hurricane Ian," the National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington station said in a Tuesday afternoon forecast discussion. "What does seem certain at this point is that our region should at least see some rainfall from Ian Saturday into Sunday. Whether that is a beneficial or hazardous amount has yet to be seen."

The meteorologists said they will monitor the forecast and adjust their predictions as necessary. The weather authorities directed residents to hurricanes.gov for the latest storm updates.

Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

This week is slated to be mostly clear in Maryland. The weekend and start of next week will depend on Ian's track, forecasters said.

AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the forward speed of Ian after landfall in Florida. This may determine its path in the rest of the U.S.

"Ian will slow down over the Southeast states, but as long as it maintains some forward speed, rainfall will be heavy but not over the top," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "However, if Ian stalls over the Southeast for a day or two, there is the potential for much heavier rainfall to fall over a broad area, including interior locations."

Maryland could see downpours, according to the latest AccuWeather model.

Dry air will cover the region before Ian arrives. Accuweather said this could reduce the area's total rainfall or it could push the storm off the mid-Atlantic coast.

As of Tuesday afternoon, this weekend's forecast calls for a chance of rain with mostly cloudy skies and highs hovering around 70 degrees. That could all change with Ian’s trajectory as it spins up the eastern seaboard.

"Rain chances start to encroach on our region as early as Friday evening as the remnants of what is now Hurricane Ian approach from the south," the National Weather Service's forecast discussion said.

To learn more about Ian's northward trek, read this AccuWeather story.

Forecast For BWI Airport

Here is the latest National Weather Service forecast for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Linthicum:

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. West wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. North wind around 8 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 7 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Saturday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Editor's Note: Patch Editor Nicole Rosenthal originally wrote this article for the New Jersey Patch. The Maryland Patch adapted it with the local forecast information.