2 Rounds Of Snow Possible As Arctic Blast Chills MD

MARYLAND — Most of Maryland could soon see its first snow of 2025. There are two chances of snow in the coming days as the state braces for a blast of cold arctic air.

Friday afternoon should bring rain and snow showers, but temperatures in the low 40s will prevent most accumulation. Snow showers could continue until 10 p.m. as temperatures dip to the mid-20s. This is part of a clipper low-pressure system, the National Weather Service said.

Snow is possible again Monday from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the high hovering around freezing. The chance of precipitation is 70% for the Baltimore-DC region.

"We have a good opportunity to see at least 3 inches of snow, if not more," 7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan said in a WTOP forecast for the Washington, D.C. area.

In Garrett County, a winter storm watch is in effect from Friday morning through Saturday morning, where heavy snow is possible in the mountains. That area could see 4 to 9 inches of snow, with wind gusts as high as 45 mph.

Ava Marie, a meteorologist for Baltimore's WBAL, agreed that 3 inches are possible Monday in the region.

WBAL Meteorologist Tom Tasselmyer reported that Monday has a:

• 90+% chance of at least 1 inch.
• 70 to 80% chance of at least 3 inches.
• 20 to 30% chance of at least 6 inches.

"There is growing confidence that a storm will produce significant wintry weather," the National Weather Service said in a forecast posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Impacts will begin in the Central Plains by late Saturday, the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Sunday, and the Mid-Atlantic region early next week."

Tasselmyer thinks Friday's storm will be weaker, bringing a dusting at most. He said there's a 20 to 30% chance of 1 inch falling from Baltimore northward.

AccuWeather said the storms correspond with an incoming burst of arctic air. The cold spurt will build throughout the first full week of January and linger through the middle of the month.

Temperatures could fall 12 degrees below historical averages, AccuWeather said, noting that some states can expect a 25-degree plunge.

In Maryland, the NWS is calling for nighttime lows around 20 degrees from Friday through Tuesday.

Here's the NWS's seven-day forecast at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. West wind 7 to 10 mph.

Friday: Rain and snow showers likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: A slight chance of snow showers before 10pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a west wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: Snow likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.