Potential Tropical Storm To Bring Rain, Easing MD Drought

MARYLAND — A storm system brewing in the Carolinas is expected to bring rain to parts of a parched Maryland, even if it doesn't become a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm will move inland over South Carolina Monday.

Most of Maryland is abnormally dry, said the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, while part of Garret County is in extreme drought, and five counties have a portion labeled severe or moderate drought, including Montgomery County. Only fve Maryland jurisdictions are under normal moisture conditions — Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Carroll counties, plus the city of Baltimore.

"Little rain has fallen this month and drought is expanding across the region," The Capital Weather Gang at The Washington Post wrote. "But that will change this week as moisture from a tropical rainstorm streams northward. It’s not certain how much rain will fall but what’s clear is that the sun will be in short supply."

Rain is likely to move into Maryland Tuesday night, with precipitation likely through Saturday night. The highest odds, so far, of rain are 60 percent on Tuesday night with thunderstorms moving through the Baltimore region, the weather service said.

Hazardous weather conditions extend well to the northeast of the center and are currently moving onshore over the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. A northwestward motion is forecast to continue over land while the weakening low spins down, the NHC said.

"With limited time before it moves inland, the chances of this system becoming a tropical or subtropical cyclone continue to decrease. The intensity guidance shows quick weakening once the low crosses the coastline," NHC forecasters said.

Locally heavy rainfall, minor coastal flooding, high surf and rip currents, and gusty onshore winds will be possible later Monday into Tuesday, said the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Virginia.

There is also a risk of isolated flash and urban flooding across much of the Mid-Atlantic region through Wednesday, the Baltimore-DC office of the NWS said.

Here's the latest Maryland forecast from the National Weather Service:

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East wind around 10 mph.

Monday Night: A slight chance of showers after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 69. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Northeast wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.