50 MPH Winds, Flooding In MD Followed By Snow: NWS Forecast

MARYLAND — Potent frontal systems pushing through the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday may bring rain, flooding and strong winds to Maryland, according to the National Weather Service. Snow may also make an appearance early next week when the coldest air mass of the season arrives.

Both Baltimore and Annapolis offered sandbags to residents Friday ahead of the next round of rain. Sandbags were available for Annapolis residents and businesses from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the City Dock parking lot near the Harbormaster Office.

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation made sandbags available for residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at three locations:

• Fells Point: Thames and Broadway
• Southwest Baltimore: Stillmeadow Church at 5110 Frederick Ave.
• Northeast Baltimore: Mervo at 3500 Hillen Road (main entrance)

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley on Friday signed a state of emergency declaration Friday to help business and property owners recover after Tuesday's historic flooding in downtown Annapolis and Eastport, WBAL- TV reported. The high water mark was 5.1 feet above normal, the third-worst flood in Annapolis history.

The city said the state of emergency will help those affected by the storm apply to the VOLT Disaster Recovery Grant Program, an initiative of the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corp. that helps businesses recover from damage and lost business after storm and coastal flooding events.

The VOLT program allows eligible businesses and nonprofits to use grants of up to $50,000 for business expenses, including physical property repairs, replacement of equipment, loss of income from damage-related closure and replacement of damaged inventory, WBAL said. Apply for VOLT grants here.

A wind advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Saturday in Anne Arundel, St. Mary's and Calvert counties. South to southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, are expected in the areas.

Potential wind gusts of up 15 to 25 mph may also occur in Anne Arundel, St. Marys and Calvert counties through Saturday and Sunday, according to the NWS. This could lead to downed trees, power lines and electrical outages in those counties.

A coastal flood watch is in effect for the shoreline in Anne Arundel County from late Friday night through Saturday morning, where there is an increasing threat of tidal flooding, the NWS said. Also, isolated instances of wind damage and flooding from rain are possible late Friday afternoon into Saturday, according to forecasters.

"Another low-pressure system approaches on Friday, bringing potential impacts similar to the recent system, including Western Maryland snow or mix, heavy rainfall with possible flooding, and strong wind gusts," WJZ News reported Thursday. "Rain will start Friday afternoon toward the evening rush hour becoming widespread by the evening."

READ ALSO: Flooding Swamps Several MD Counties, Knocks Out Power: Photos

Rains will likely end before 7 a.m. on Saturday. Winds will remain strong on Saturday, with a west wind of 16 to 26 mph and gusts as high as 40 mph.

With colder air moving into the region, there will be a chance for snow showers in Maryland on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, lasting into Tuesday morning. "Specifics are still sketchy, but some accumulation will be possible if the forecast remains as we see it now," forecasters at WJZ News said.

Expect an icy temperature of 28 degrees on Friday, under mostly cloudy skies, which will switch over to rain and breezy weather tonight, according to NWS. Saturday will be sunny and breezy, with a high of 47 during the day, dropping to 29 degrees Saturday night. Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

The following is the extended forecast for the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region.

Friday: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 51. Light east wind becoming southeast 13 to 18 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 am. Low around 43. Breezy, with a southeast wind 20 to 25 mph becoming south 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Southwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

M.L.King Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.

Monday Night: A chance of snow after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of snow before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 13. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 28. Blustery.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.