Alert Day: Artic fronts, bitterly cold conditions for Christmas Eve

BALTIMORE -- It is Christmas Eve, and Mother Nature has given Maryland a bit of a present. Yes, it is still very cold outside. But temperatures are not quite as harsh as they have been over the past 24 hours.

This kind of cold means business. And given that Christmas Eve tends to be a big night of socializing, everyone should dress for the weather first and foremost. That will be the fashion statement for the night.

It will be very cold tomorrow morning, too, but not the extreme wind-chill cold of this past daybreak when it was around -9° in the city. 

On Christmas morning, wind chills will be in the range of 5 to 8 degrees. In comparison, the overnight low is forecast at 16 degrees. And because of that continued--although moderating--cold, WJZ's weather team has issued an "Alert Day" for tomorrow.

Moving into next week, there will be a big change. The Polar Vortex will retreat back north, which means temperatures will slowly get to and above the average of the mid 40s by mid-week. 

Truth be told, even a high of 30 degrees tomorrow with light winds and 34 degrees on Monday, with light winds again, will feel so much more comfortable than that large hit of harsh air. 

As we end next week, and 2022, the forecast daytime highs will be above the seasonal average and within arm's reach of 60 degrees.

Every Winter we wonder how cold it will be. This year, we found out how cold it can be right at the "front door" of the season. We have been tested and passed the test. 

Yes, Maryland will see the Polar Vortex again, but the tension associated with the question of "when will it get cold" is over.