Pair Of Storms Could Hit MD Ahead Of Thanksgiving

MARYLAND — A pair of storms moving in from the north will knock temperatures down 20 degrees and bring a soggy start to one of the busiest weeks of the year as many Marylanders travel ahead of Thanksgiving.

"Heavy rain, gusty winds and even snow are expected as a pair of storms is forecast to join forces in the eastern half of the country next week. This could wreak havoc for millions during some of the traditionally busiest hours of pre-Thanksgiving travel," according to Accuweather.

Possibly impacting travels, a pair of storm systems coming from the Canadian border will make their way east and could bring a variety of impacts to the mid-Atlantic region.

By Wednesday, the storms were expected to merge in the eastern Great Lakes, Appalachians and Eastern Seaboard, spreading heavy rain and gusty winds all the way to the coast, according to Accuweather.

Before the storms arrive, Maryland residents will continue to enjoy abnormally warm weather on Thursday and Friday.

"A bit less cloud cover today & slightly warmer temps as high pressure pushes offshore. After morning temps in the 30s expect highs to climb into the upper 60s this afternoon. Mild temps continue into Friday with rain chances later in the day. Cooler this weekend," wrote the U.S. National Weather Service office for Baltimore-Washington.

Temperatures will top out in the low 70s on Thursday and Friday before beginning to drop into the 50s this weekend.

While next week will start with plenty of sunshine and dry weather on Monday, rainy weather will move in on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a soaking storm can track from the central U.S. toward the East, complicating travel plans," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.

More people are expected to travel this Thanksgiving than the previous year, according to AAA, who said 55.4 million travelers will be venturing at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving, which would be an increase of 2.3 percent over last year.

The busiest travel days are predicted to be Wednesday, Nov. 22, and the three days after Thanksgiving, according to AAA.

The heaviest rain from the newly-formed storm could be soaking a portion of the East Coast, especially in parts of New England which may coincide with the busiest times to travel between 2 and 6 p.m. on Nov. 22.

However, the exact times for heavy rain are too early to target, says Glenny. She said the speed of the storm will be key in determining when and where the downpours erupt.

"A main factor to monitor with this storm will be how quickly it can exit New England," she said.

Here's the latest National Weather Service Maryland forecast:

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. South wind 3 to 5 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 39.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Monday Night: A chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: Showers. High near 59. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: Showers. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 30%.