WEATHER BLOG: Hot Thursday

Today will be a hotter and more humid day across Maryland as a southwesterly wind pumps in the sticky air. Storms are expected to start firing up this afternoon, and we feel that those areas which have the greatest chance of seeing a shower or strong thunderstorm before the sun sets will be those located in western Maryland and in other spots well to the north and the west of Baltimore.

Actually, the Storm Prediction Center today has their slight risk area located in western Maine, much of Vermont and New Hampshire, and it extends back across the Hudson Valley into northeastern Pennsylvania... So, while we can't rule out a thunderstorm later this afternoon or tonight with wind gusts of up to 50 mph and some hard downpours, those storms which may bring with them wind gusts in excess of 70 mph and also some hail will probably occur well to your north and east...

As a front slowly pushes through the region tonight and tomorrow, we'll need to allow for a few showers and heavy thunderstorms -- but it should dry out and be nicer in time for Friday.