MD Weather: Heavy Snow In The Forecast This Weekend Could Complicate Travel

MARYLAND — Up to 9 inches of snow could fall in parts of Maryland by Saturday night as a nor-easter moves up the East Coast, according to weather forecasters.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Eastern Shore from Friday to Saturday nights, noting travel could be very difficult.

Heavy snow is possible, with 4 to 9 inches of accumulation possible, the winter storm watch says. Wind gusts as high as 40 mph are also in the forecast. Blowing snow may cause low visibility, officials advised.

"The storm total snow forecast remains very uncertain, so stay tuned to the latest forecasts," the National Weather Service said in a statement Thursday.

Central Maryland Could See Snow, Chill

Thursday should be dry and cool across Maryland.

In the Baltimore-Washington area, temperatures will hit a high of about 37 degrees, falling to about 26 degrees overnight Thursday.

On Friday, about 1 to 2 inches of snow may fall in central Maryland between the afternoon and evening, according to the latest forecast.

Temperatures are slated to remain below freezing Saturday.

The mid-Atlantic to southeastern New England will receive snowfall Friday night into Sunday from the storm expected to strengthen into a bomb cyclone and a full-blown blizzard for eastern New England, AccuWeather predicted.

"Everything is on the table with this storm,” AccuWeather chief on-air meteorologist Bernie Rayno said Thursday. The storm will develop near eastern North Carolina late this week then rapidly intensify while it moves north along or just off the East Coast into the weekend.

If the storm shifts 50 miles to the west from the expected path, the 3- to 6-inch snow amounts predicted in Philadelphia and the 6-12 inches forecast from New York City to Ocean City, Maryland, could double, AccuWeather said.

If the storm moves 50 miles farther to the east, snowfall in these areas could drop by half.

Winter Storm Watch Applies To Eastern Shore

In the Delmarva area, heavy snow is expected to start Friday evening, then spread north early Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The snow could be heavy at times through early Saturday afternoon before diminishing late Saturday.

These areas of the Eastern Shore are under a winter storm watch from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday:

• Caroline County
• Kent County
• Queen Anne's County
• Talbot County

The winter storm watch also applies to parts of Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and much of central and southern New Jersey.

The winter storm watch issued Thursday for the Eastern Shore calls for up to 9 inches, which is an increase from the 8 inches projected by forecasters Wednesday.

See Also: MD Weather: Snow Possible Friday, Some Areas May Get 8 Inches

For the latest updates, check the National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington page.