Thunderstorms, Heavy Rains Move In To MD: See Latest Forecast

MARYLAND — Thunderstorms are likely to pop up Wednesday, bringing heavy downpours and gusty winds of 50 mph to much of Maryland, forecasters said.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will gradually increase Wednesday afternoon through 7 p.m. in the Baltimore-DC region as a cold front moves through the area, according to the National Weather Service.

As the thunderstorms develop later in the day, gusty winds of 40 to 50 mph, small hail and heavy rain locally are the primary threats, according to the NWS forecast. The chance of rain will diminish after 9 p.m., as skies clear. Expect patchy fog overnight.

Air streams moving in from Canada will feel more like April or the start of May rather than the end of May through the Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, according to AccuWeather.

"In Washington, D.C., the air will seem refreshing for late May with high temperatures in the mid-70s F from Wednesday to Friday, compared to a historical average near 80, and replacing highs well in the 80s with high humidity from the past week or so," AccuWeather reported.

Temperatures will range from the upper 70s to low 80s and drop to mid to upper 50s and low 60s in the evening.

Clear and sunny skies are expected to move into the region on Friday through Sunday during the daylight hours, according to the NWS forecast.

The first hint of rain on the NWS forecast occurs on Sunday night, with a chance of thunderstorms and showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Those conditions are expected to continue through Tuesday.

The following is the seven-day forecast for Maryland from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday Afternoon: Isolated showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 3pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 79. West wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers between 9pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 76. North wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86.