Winter Storm To Bring Heavy Rain To MD, Then Dangerous Wind Chills Heading Into Weekend

MARYLAND — As rain spreads across central Maryland and the D.C. suburbs from the winter storm traveling through the region, residents can expect occasional downpours by late Thursday morning and into the afternoon and evening.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for several Maryland counties along the Interstate 95 corridor, starting at 11 a.m. Thursday and ending at 1 a.m. on Friday. The rainfall is expected to total 1 to 2 inches, and it will be raining hard enough at times to cause high water in flood-prone areas and ponding on roadways.

A wind chill advisory has also been issued from 7 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday for portions of southeast and central Maryland, with wind chills as low as 5 below zero in the forecast. The dangerous wind chills could result in frost bite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken, the NWS said.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday night that the state activated emergency response operations ahead of the winter storm.

“We have activated emergency response operations in anticipation of this winter storm, which we view as a two-phase event, with the first wave of weather coming in overnight, and the second on Friday into Christmas Eve,” Hogan said. “Marylanders should be prepared for significant impacts to holiday travel, and adjust plans as necessary."

For Thursday, along with the flood watch for central Maryland, a winter storm warning is in effect for Garrett and Allegany counties, with the potential of significant snow and ice accumulations through Thursday afternoon.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Washington and Frederick counties, with the possibility of lighter ice accumulations that could lead to some slick spots Thursday morning.

"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 reported.

On Friday, as temperatures begin the day well above freezing, an Arctic front will burst into the area during the late morning and early afternoon.

There could be some accumulation around Baltimore on Friday, which will be when the temperatures will drop drastically, according to WBAL forecasters. Whatever will be on the ground Friday will be there Christmas morning because of the temperatures dropping into the teens.

Temperatures will drop to the low to mid-teens by Christmas Eve morning, with wind chills in the single digits below zero west of I-95, according to WJZ.

"We will not get out of the 20s all day Saturday and wind chills will remain in the teens and single digits," the news station reported.

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

Thursday: Rain. High near 47. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday night: Rain before 1am, then rain likely after 4 a.m. Low around 33. East wind 7 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain likely before 10 a.m., then a chance of snow between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 14 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -4. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -7. Breezy, with a west wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 21. West wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday night: Clear, with a low around 14.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 26.