MD Weather: Bomb Cyclone Threatens Snow, High Winds This Weekend

MARYLAND — A powerful winter storm front sweeping across the country is expected to turn into what forecasters call a "bomb cyclone" as it approaches the East Coast, bringing rain, strong winds and snow to the Maryland area.

A bomb cyclone, or bombogenesis, is a rapidly strengthening storm that forms when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"Confidence is growing for a significant storm that will bring wide-reaching impacts," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva. "Winds across the entire East Coast will be very gusty Saturday and Saturday night."

Temperatures in Maryland will be in the upper 50 and may even hit 60 Friday before the system causes a shift on Saturday, when nighttime lows drop below freezing to the teens and low 20s.

"Much colder air will spread across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic in the wake of this storm system," the National Weather Service reported.

The "bomb cyclone" effect is most often felt during a period of strong winds, which forecasters say is in the cards.

Wind gusts of up to 45 mph are possible across Maryland on Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The blustery conditions will come on the heels of a wintry mix.

Rain will begin early Saturday morning, mix with snow, and may turn to all snow by Saturday night.

"It does appear increasingly likely that there will be accumulating snow in the farther northern and western suburbs of Washington/Baltimore toward the Allegheny Highlands," National Weather Service forecasters said Thursday. "For Washington/Baltimore, there is still a chance for accumulating snow, but confidence decreases a bit."

The weather service reports it will "monitor closely, because any slight change in the track of the low or timing of the cold air will have a significant impact on the potential for wintry precipitation."

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Two counties in western Maryland are under winter storm watches for up to a foot of snow, 55 mph gusts and below-freezing wind chills while the storm travels northeast.

On Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Garrett County and extreme western Allegany County due to the potential for these conditions from 3 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday:

• Between 6 inches to a foot of snow in Garrett County and 6 to 10 inches of snow in Allegany. Blowing snow could reduce visibility to 0.25 mile or less Saturday afternoon and night.
• Wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph. Winds will be strongest Saturday afternoon into the evening. Branches may come down, and travel could be very difficult.
• Wind chills of 15 below zero in Garrett County. Hypothermia is possible if people do not take precautions.

"Prepare for blizzard conditions,” the National Weather Service advised those in the winter storm watch area, which includes Garrett County, Md.; western Highland County, Va.; and western Grant, Mineral and Pendleton counties in West Virginia

Here are the latest forecasts for central Maryland from the National Weather Service:

Annapolis

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51 and low around 35.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55 and low around 45.

Saturday: High near 48 with a low of 23. Rain, mainly after 2 a.m. It may mix with snow showers from 2 to 8 p.m. Breezy, with a south wind 7 to 12 mph becoming northwest 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 47 mph.

Sunday: Sunny and breezy, with a high near 44 and low around 33.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58 and low around 43.

Baltimore

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53 and low near 35. Calm wind.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57 and low around 44. Calm wind.

Saturday: Rain, mainly from 2 a.m. until 2 p.m., then chance of rain and snow showers until 8 p.m. The high is 44 degrees, with a low of 20. Wind gusts Saturday night may hit 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Up to 0.5 inch snow may accumulate.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 41 and low of 31.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58 and low around 42.

Bel Air

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50 and low around 31 degrees.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55 and low around 42.

Saturday: High near 45 and low of 19 degrees. Rain from 1 to 10 a.m., then rain and snow showers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., then a chance of snow showers from 4 to 7 p.m. Blustery at night, with wind gusts as high as 46 mph. Less than 1 inch of snow may accumulate.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 38 and low around 29.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55 and a low around 39.

Bethesda

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52 and low around 33.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60 and low around 42.

Saturday: High near 49 and low around 19. Rain before 1 p.m., then rain and snow showers likely between 1 and 4 p.m., then a chance of snow showers from 4 to 7 p.m. Breezy, with a southwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming northwest 19 to 24 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Blustery.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44 and low around 31.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59 and low around 42.

Bowie

Thursday: Patchy fog before 1 p.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 52 and low around 34 degrees. Calm wind at night.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59 and low around 43.

Saturday: High near 49 and low around 21. Rain from 1 to 10 a.m., then rain and snow showers from until 4 p.m., then a chance of snow showers from 4 to 7 p.m. Breezy, with a south wind 8 to 13 mph becoming northwest 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Blustery. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44 and low around 31.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59 and low around 42.

Columbia

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52 and low near 32.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60 and low around 43.

Saturday: High near 46 and low of 20. Rain until 11 a.m., then rain might mix with snow, then a chance of snow showers before 8 p.m. Blustery at night, with wind gusts as high as 46 mph. Less than 1 inch of precipitation is possible.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 41 and low around 30.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58 and low around 40.