Winter Storm To Bring Heavy Rain To MD, Then Rapid Freeze On Friday Before Christmas

MARYLAND — Forecasters have a little more clarity on a major winter storm that is moving toward the east and is expected to hit Maryland on Thursday. It could impact travel for millions traveling in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays and cause delays at airports in dozens of locations around the nation.

For Maryland counties around Baltimore and in the D.C. suburbs, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Thursday morning through late Thursday night. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the NWS said.

"It's looking more rainy than wintry for Baltimore on Thursday, whereas the heavy snow will be farther west in Western Maryland, Pennsylvania and the Great Lakes," WBAL-TV reported Wednesday.

There could be some snow west of Baltimore on Thursday morning. Any snow still on the ground in Maryland by Friday afternoon will be there Christmas morning because of the temperatures dropping into the teens, according to WBAL-TV.

In Anne Arundel County, residents can expect all rain on Thursday, with between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. On Friday, though, the National Weather Service anticipates a slight chance of snow between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Annapolis and the surrounding county as temperatures begin to dip into the 20s and teens.

For Western Maryland, the NWS has issued a winter storm warning for Garrett and Allegany counties on Thursday from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Four to seven inches of snow and sleet and a quarter of an inch of ice are expected.

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A winter weather advisory is in effect for Washington County from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. One to three inches of snow and sleet is expected, with some areas west of I-81 seeing closer to five inches.

Closer in, a brief period of wintry mix is possible on Thursday, mainly before 9 a.m. north of Frederick, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said Thursday morning. Drivers are advised to be careful on bridges, ramps and overpasses during this time.

On Friday, road crews will be unable to pre-treat roads in Maryland that receive heavy rain on Thursday and Friday morning.

"A serious, SERIOUS flash freeze event is likely," NBC4 said Wednesday in its forecast for the D.C. area, including the Maryland suburbs. Avoid any unnecessary travel Friday evening and night! All those puddles and all that run-off rainfall will be frozen solid."

On Friday, as the rain tapers offs, temperatures could reach into the 50s in parts of Maryland. By midafternoon Friday, temperatures will begin to plummet, possibly dropping 30 degrees, with temperatures possibly as cold as the teens and 20s by sunset.

The cold front that will move into Maryland could create one of the coldest Christmas holidays in recent decades.

AAA issued a statement reminding motorists on Wednesday, the first day of winter, that cold weather could disrupt holiday travel plans if they don’t take precautions in advance.

“There is no convenient time to experience a breakdown, but over a holiday weekend in the extreme cold could be a worst-case scenario, especially if you are traveling with children or seniors,” Edward Hickey, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Baltimore Fleet Manager, said in a statement. “AAA will respond to members as quickly and safely as possible, but all motorists are encouraged to prepare now to avoid any problems down the road.”

Here is the National Weather Service's Maryland weather forecast for the next few days.

Wednesday night: Cloudy, with a low around 31.

Thursday: Rain. High near 48. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday night: Rain, mainly before 1am. Low around 44. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain, possibly mixing with snow after 10 a.m., then gradually ending. High near 46. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 23 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. Breezy.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 26.