Nor'Easter In MD Forecast: Storm Could Bring Soaking Rain, Winds

MARYLAND — A significant storm could develop along the East Coast this coming weekend, with the potential to affect Maryland as it becomes a full-fledged nor’easter, according to forecasters.

If the forecasts prove correct, the storm will likely bring soaking rain and strong winds to Maryland.

The storm that will bring rain to our area originated as Super Typhoon Bolaven in Japan, Accuweather meteorologists said. Energy from the storm will move across the U.S. throughout the week, before meeting moist Atlantic air and forming a new storm near the Carolina coast, and then track north, according to AccuWeather.

The storm is expected to form along the Carolina coast and begin to track northward late this week, AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

“The storm will strengthen significantly as it travels northward on Saturday night and Sunday,” Rayno said. “The storm is likely to evolve into a potent nor’easter and produce a zone of heavy rain, strong winds and building seas.”

Forecasters at the Capital Weather Gang said this weekend will start with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of scattered showers Saturday morning as the cold front moves through. Temperatures by Saturday night are expected to dip into the 40s.

The collision of the two weather systems is a recipe for a potential nor'easter, which is a strong storm that tracks up the Atlantic coast and intensifies near New England with strong winds out of the northeast.

"A Nor’easter is a storm along the East Coast of North America, so called because the winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. These storms may occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most violent between September and April," the official National Weather Service definition says.

Between now and the weekend, the National Weather Service said some lingering rain showers are possible along the Alleghenies. Otherwise, cool conditions will continue in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas, but with a slow warming trend through the week.

"Rain chances return by Fri-Sat, accompanied by increasing wind as a coastal low intensifies," the NWS said.

"Which areas get hit the hardest by the effects of rain and wind will depend on the track and strength of the storm, but there is the likelihood of a thorough soaking in much of the northeast U.S. and Atlantic Canada this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

Here is a look at the National Weather Service forecast through the weekend in central Maryland:

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Friday: A chance of showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.

Friday night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Saturday night: A chance of showers before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Breezy.