Cooler temperatures return to Maryland Thursday, rainy weather expected on Easter
Temperatures in Maryland Thursday may be a shock to the system after the upper 80s and near record highs on Wednesday.
Temperatures on Thursday will be stuck in the 50s and feel like the 40s with the overcast and breezy conditions.
Big temperature swings are the theme of this forecast. In addition to temperature whiplash, rain is likely on Easter Sunday.
Roller coaster temperatures across Maryland
Temperatures have turned chilly behind a strong cold front that crossed much of Maryland Wednesday evening. With a stiff east to northeast wind today at 10 to 20 mph along with overcast skies, temperatures will hold steady in the lower to middle 50s. In addition to the cloud cover there may be a few pockets and waves of drizzle. No downpours or severe weather is in the forecast.
Cloudy and chilly weather continues into Thursday night with lows in the middle 40s. Areas of drizzle and fog are possible Thursday night into the Friday morning commute.
The cold front to our south and west will lift back as a warm front Friday. This means the early morning gloomy weather will only be temporary. Expect low clouds, patchy drizzle, and fog Friday morning to give way to breaks of sunshine during the afternoon. A gusty south wind will develop at 10 to 15 mph, which will help temperatures reach the lower 80s. Areas along and near Chesapeake Bay will be cooler.
Saturday will turn very warm again as summery warmth develops ahead of a strong cold front. Winds will return out of the south-southwest at 10 to 25 mph. With a mixture of clouds and sunshine, high temperatures will come very close to the record high of 86° set back in 2011. For the most part, the weather looks to stay dry Saturday, so it's our pick of the weekend, especially for any outdoor activities like Easter egg hunts. An isolated to widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible Saturday evening and night.
Rainy weather on Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is tagged as a possible First Alert Weather Day. Another cold front pushes through with widespread rain and a few storms. The chance of wet weather appears to peak between mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Timing may shift as Sunday gets closer. Outdoor Easter plans may be impacted. Check back in with the First Alert Weather team. Right now early expectations of 0.25" to 0.50" of rain seems likely, so no widespread flooding or severe weather is expected. However, we'll continue to watch the situation with the timing of the rain and storms.
A brief, but potent chilly snap of weather is likely Monday through Wednesday of next week before temperatures warm-up again.