Potential Hurricane Targets Southeast: See Possible MD Impacts

MARYLAND — A strengthening tropical storm that forecasters believe could turn into a hurricane could bring some rain and possible coastal flooding to parts of Maryland later this week, according to the latest data.

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to intensify to near hurricane strength by early Wednesday and could be a major hurricane as it approaches the northern U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday. Landfall is most likely to occur somewhere in northern Florida along the Gulf Coast.

The current track of the storm shows it slowly turning to the northwest as it moves over Georgia and is forecast to dump heavy rains across the Southeast, the southern Appalachians and the Tennessee Valley later this week.

• RELATED: Tropical Storm Helene Aims For Gulf, 61 FL Counties Under Emergency

If the storm’s path shifts slightly, its remnants could impact the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas late Friday into Saturday morning, forecasters said.

"If the track would go a little further west, we wouldn't see too much in the way of impacts here in the Washington area," FOX 5 meteorologist Tucker Barnes said. "But some of the models try to bring us some rain here by Friday and Saturday. So we've got some question marks for the end of the week."

Regardless, the area is in for a wet, soggy work week, according to forecasts.

"A slow-moving weather system and persistent onshore flow continue to hinder our ability to see sunshine for the next several days," the Capital Weather Gang said in its Tuesday forecast. "Potential remnants from upcoming Hurricane Helene could then bring further cloud cover and more rain chances late this week."

The region was under a hazardous weather outlook Tuesday as rain and showers moved through the area, according to the National Weather Service. Affected areas included the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, the Tidal Potomac River and the I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia and the District of Columbia.

A coastal flood advisory was also in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday for the shorelines in Anne Arundel and Saint Mary's counties in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the city of Alexandria in Virginia.

According to the NWS, moderate coastal flooding is possible at times through the end of the week, especially Friday.

"Friday is our trickiest forecast day as the weather models diverge on how much remnant moisture from upcoming Hurricane Helene spills into our area," the Capital Weather Gang said. "Rain is possible, especially in southern and western areas toward the afternoon."

Here's the detailed NWS forecast for the Baltimore area through Saturday:

Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind 7 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers likely before 11am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog between 11am and noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A chance of showers after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 30%.