Weather
Weather Threats Prompt Alerts From Maryland State Police, National Weather Service
Here's what to expect from the winter storm headed for Maryland on its way to the northeast, according to the National Weather Service.
MARYLAND — With the potential for ice in the forecast, the National Weather Service has posted alerts across Maryland Thursday.
A mix of rain, snow and freezing rain will arrive in Maryland Thursday from the west and spread north and east, according to forecasters. It will continue overnight into Friday morning.
The greatest threat is freezing rain, which could create hazards during the Thursday night and Friday morning commutes.
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Although winter weather advisories and an ice storm warning were initially slated for afternoon and evening hours, the National Weather Service changed the time they took effect to 9:15 a.m. Thursday to account for periods of intermittent freezing rain.
The "more impactful period of freezing rain"will be Thursday night to early Friday, officials said.
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"Icy conditions are possible on many roads over the next 24 hours," Maryland State Police said in a statement Thursday morning. "Please proceed with caution."
Parts of central, northern and northeastern Maryland are under winter weather advisories Thursday morning to Friday morning due to the potential for icy conditions.
In western Maryland, an ice storm warning was issued due to the potential for "significant icing from freezing rain," according to forecasters, who say it may cause outages.
The storm moving its way across Maryland is expected to drop more than 6 inches of snow in parts of the northeastern United States Friday morning, with Boston slated to get 7 to 12 inches of accumulation. Forecasters expect the storm will move off the Mid-Atlantic coast by Friday night.
A wintry mix is expected along the Maxon-Dixon Line Friday morning, while other parts of the state may see solely freezing rain, according to the National Weather Service.
About 0.1 to 0.2 inch ice is possible in parts of northern Maryland, while up to 0.5 inch snow and sleet could also accumulate, forecasters say.
The wintry mix prompted the National Weather Service to place these areas under a winter weather advisory from 9:15 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday:
- Baltimore County (northern)
- Carroll County
- Frederick County
- Harford County (northwest)
- Howard County (northwest)
- Montgomery County (northwest)
- Washington County
"Light mixed precipitation may occur at times today, but a prolonged period of freezing rain will lead to greater impacts tonight into Friday morning," according to the advisory, which states: "Slow down and use caution while traveling."
Freezing rain also prompted the National Weather Service to issue a separate advisory for central Maryland. The winter weather advisory from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday applies here:
- Baltimore City
- Baltimore County (southern)
- Cecil County
- Harford County (southeast)
- Howard County (central and southeast)
- Montgomery County (central and southeast)
"Light mixed precipitation may occur at times today," the advisory states, "but the greater risk for hazardous travel will come from freezing rain tonight."
The National Weather Service also issued a gale watch for the Upper Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac River from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday. West winds of 15 to 25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots are possible, officials said.
Due to strong winds that may reduce visibility and cause damaging waves, boaters are encouraged to plan to avoid hazardous conditions. They should stay in port, seek safe harbor, alter course or secure their vessels for wind and waves, according to the gale watch.
See localized forecasts at the bottom of the article.
Western Maryland Under Ice Storm Warning
Allegany and Garrett counties are under an ice storm warning calling for freezing rain.
The ice storm warning for western Maryland runs from 9:15 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday.
Up to 0.3 inch ice and up to 1 inch of snow and sleet may accumulate, officials say, and power outages and tree damage could occur.
"Light mixed precipitation may occur at times today, but a prolonged period of freezing rain will lead to greater impacts tonight into Friday morning," the ice storm warning states. "Strong winds will develop Friday morning and could add stress to ice-laden trees and power lines."
The storm impacting western Maryland is also hitting an adjacent state.
"Significant ice accumulations are possible across south-central Pennsylvania and western Maryland. Prepare now for this major winter storm," the National Weather Service forecasters said in a statement. "Widespread hazardous travel and damage to the power infrastructure are expected."
Forecasts Across MD
Thursday: Rain and sleet likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no sleet accumulation expected. A chance of rain and sleet before 9 p.m., then rain. Patchy fog between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.
Friday: Rain likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Patchy fog between 7 and 11 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 52 and low of 28. South wind 7 to 12 mph becoming northwest 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between 0.1 and 0.25 inch.
Thursday: Rain, snow, and sleet likely before 2 p.m., then a chance of rain and sleet. Little or no accumulation expected. Cloudy, with a high near 36 and low of 33 degrees. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Chance of rain and sleet before 10 p.m. then rain.
Friday: Patchy fog from midnight to 11 a.m. Rain, mainly before 1 p.m. High near 48 and low of 27. Breezy, with a southeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation from 0.1 to 0.25 inch possible. At night, northwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A chance of snow, mixing with rain after 11 a.m., then gradually ending. Cloudy, with a high near 35 and low of 31. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Rain, freezing rain, and sleet before midnight. Patchy fog from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. Friday.
Friday: Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Freezing rain between midnight and 2 a.m., then rain or freezing rain after 2 a.m. Sleet could be heavy at times. Rain before 1 p.m. East wind 5 to 7 mph in the early hours. New ice accumulation of around 0.1 inch and sleet under 0.5 inch possible. High near 49 and low near 24 degrees. Breezy, with a southeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. New precipitation amounts between 0.25 and 0.5 inch. Nighttime will be partly cloudy, with northwest winds of 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. West wind 8 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Rain and sleet likely, possibly mixed with snow before 10 a.m., then rain and sleet likely. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected. A chance of rain and sleet before 9 p.m., then rain. Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Low around 33. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.
Friday: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Rain, mainly before 10 a.m. High near 53. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph becoming northwest 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than 0.1 inch possible. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42 and low around 31. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A chance of rain, snow, and sleet before 10 a.m., then rain and sleet likely. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected. Rain, mainly after 9 p.m.
Friday: Patchy fog before 4 a.m., then patchy fog from 5 to 9 a.m. Rain, mainly before 10 a.m. Low around 33. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of overnight precipitation is 100 percent, with 0.25 to 0.5 inch possible. High near 54 and low around 27. Breezy, with a south wind 6 to 11 mph becoming northwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent during the day. New precipitation amounts between 0.1 and 0.25 inch possible.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42 and low around 31. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Rain, snow and sleet likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain before noon. A chance of rain, snow and sleet from noon to 1 p.m., then a chance of rain and sleet after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected. At night, chance of rain and sleet before 9 p.m.; then rain, freezing rain and sleet likely from 9 to 10 p.m. Rain or freezing rain after 10 p.m. Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Low around 32. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.
Friday:
Rain or freezing rain likely before 7 a.m., then rain until 1 p.m. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. High near 50. Breezy, with a southeast wind 7 to 12 mph becoming west 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Nighttime clouds, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40 and low near 30. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
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