Polar Vortex Could Bring Snow, Wintry Mix To MD This Week: See Timing, Forecast

A blast of Arctic air from the north could interact with a storm system to the south, potentially bringing snow and a wintry mix of precipitation to parts of Maryland later this week, according to the latest forecasts.

Rain was falling across much of the area on Tuesday and was expected to taper off by mid-afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Marylanders can expect cold and dry conditions on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a new winter storm that could threaten the region on Friday.

An Arctic blast of air, tied with a shift in the polar vortex, is expected to clash with a storm over the southern United States. How the two systems interact will determine the extent of accumulating snow and a slippery mixture of snow, ice and rain versus just rain from Friday night to Sunday in the eastern part of the nation, AccuWeather forecasters said Tuesday.

"Should the cold air push too forcibly into the Northeast late in the week, the storm will escape out to sea with mostly rain for the Southeast and perhaps a narrow zone of snow, ice and rain or snow on its northern edge," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

Rayno continued, "However, should the cold air sit back just a bit in the Northeast and let the storm strengthen as it nears the Atlantic coast, it could turn into a heavy snow accumulation from the southern Appalachians and Piedmont all the way to the interior mid-Atlantic and much of New England."

While there will be adequate cold air in place for the Baltimore region to see snow, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said models are divided as to how much moisture will reach the area. Some suggest the system will stay too far south and east to give us accumulating snow. However, other models show the potential for a dusting to a few inches.

"We gently lean toward at least a little snow making it into parts of the region but, as we’re right along the edge, confidence is low," the Capital Weather Gang said.

If it snows, the Baltimore region will likely see precipitation Friday morning into the evening, forecasters said.

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

Tuesday: Rain, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog. High near 41. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Calm wind.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Light west wind becoming northwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Friday: A chance of snow after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 1am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.