Dangerously cold wind-chills continue in Maryland, weekend snow possible

Extremely cold weather will continue in Maryland through the end of the week. Thursday, Friday and Saturday after First Alert Weather Days, due to the freezing temperatures.

Make sure you are ready for an extended period of unusually cold weather. Look after loved ones and be alert to people in need in your area. Find a list of winter shelters here.

Bitterly cold weather across Maryland

An Arctic front has moved through Maryland, and colder weather is blowing into Maryland in its wake. 

Temperatures plunge into the single digits in many places early Thursday morning. Factoring in the breeze, wind-chills will drop below zero across much of the area. A few spots may have actual temperatures close to 0° around sunrise on Thursday. 

A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect through 11 a.m. due to the dangerous cold.

First Alert Weather Days are in effect Thursday through Saturday as unusually cold weather continues, especially during the morning hours. Wind-chills between 0° and -20° will be common; especially on Friday and Saturday mornings. The coldest wind-chills will be outside of the Baltimore Beltway. 

Afternoons will feature a mix of sunshine and clouds. Thankfully, Thursday looks like the breeziest day before winds back down a bit Friday and Saturday as the coldest weather settles in. The intensity and duration of the cold could freeze and break water pipes. Please make sure your home is properly winterized and protected from extreme cold. Ensure your car tires are properly inflated, you have windshield washer fluid levels checked, and your car batteries are in good health. 

Weekend winter storm, more snow possible 

A powerful coastal storm is set to develop near or over the southeastern United States on Friday. While we are confident in an intense storm forming, its track remains very uncertain. The track and intensity of this storm will determine how much snow, if any, falls in Maryland.

There are three main scenarios as of midday Wednesday: 

A storm well out to sea that will produce no snow along the East Coast. 

A storm close enough to the coast to produce some snow, particularly along the beaches and eastern shore of Maryland. At this time, this is the most likely scenario; however, that is subject to change based on future computer model guidance. This more reliable guidance should start to become available sometime on Thursday.

Lastly, there is a scenario where the storm quickly intensifies and tracks just offshore, producing significant snow and wind across many states, including Maryland. This has the potential to deliver major snowfall accumulations, strong winds that produce low visibility along with drifting of snow, and coastal flooding. The storm would evolve into a powerful nor'easter. Right now, this is the least likely scenario. But that could change in future computer guidance. 

This area of low pressure may deepen or strengthen so quickly that it achieves "bomb cyclone" status. You may have recently heard the term online.

The WJZ First Alert Weather Team is closely watching the weather setup later this week. As confidence increases in a particular scenario, we'll be able to tell you more about the impact of location and severity. 

What is a "bomb cyclone"?

A "bomb cyclone" is an area of low pressure, also called a cyclone, that has a central pressure that drops rapidly as it strengthens. 

The term started being used more frequently in the 1940s and 1950s. The pressure would need to drop at least 24 millibars in 24-hours within the storm. However, there are other factors, including the location of the storm, that need to be considered before designating the term. 

This process has always existed in our atmosphere. However, the term "bomb cyclone" has become increasingly popular across social media when talking about extreme weather.