Bitter cold continues, winds increase this weekend in Maryland

Brutal cold, with more wind is in the forecast through the weekend. Saturday and Sunday are First Alert Weather Days due to brutally cold weather in Maryland.  Be alert to dangerous well-below-zero wind chills each morning. Out of the three days, Sunday will feature the worst feeling cold due to stronger winds.

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 in Baltimore through Sunday

The next few mornings are going to be brutally cold. Wind-chills between 0° and -20° will be common before 9 a.m., especially on Sunday. 

Saturday features more clouds and cold weather. Temperatures slowly warm back into the upper teens and lower 20s in many areas during the afternoon. A breeze will have it feeling like it is closer to 10° through the day. Light snow moves into far southern Maryland and the beaches Saturday afternoon and evening. A couple flurries are possible in our area - that's about it. 

The nor'easter we've been talking about will remain well to our south and east. However, it will bring windy weather into our forecast. The windiest day will be Sunday. Winds will gust 30 to 40 MPH, and even stronger out on the bay, Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Sunday morning temperatures will average in the low to mid-teens. Combined with the wind, it'll feel like it is well below zero Sunday morning; as cold as -25° out in Garrett, Allegany and Washington Counties. 

The intensity and duration of the cold could freeze and break water pipes. The risk of water main breaks remains high. Please make sure your home is properly winterized and protected from extreme cold. Make sure your car tires are properly inflated, you have windshield washer fluid levels checked and your car batteries are in good health. 

Lastly, despite ice appearing to be thick enough to walk on over many waterways, don't risk it. Ice depth can change quickly, and wind or current could lead to quick changes in the ice condition.

Weekend storm could bring snow to beaches

Ironically, widespread snow will fall across some of the same areas that dealt with freezing rain and power outages last weekend. The storm will quickly become large and powerful over the weekend as it slowly tracks off the coast of the Carolinas. 

The Outer Banks of North Carolina may pick up a foot of snow. 

The worst of the storm will stay offshore, but fringe impacts will hit Maryland beaches. A few inches of snow accumulation is possible along Maryland's coastaline; areas like Ocean City. Snow is also possible in extreme southern Maryland, closer to the mouth of the bay. The biggest local impact will come from gusty winds, as talked about above. 

Gradual thaw early next week in Baltimore

The extreme cold will ease for a few days next week.

Monday and Tuesday feature sunshine, with highs in the low to mid-30s. Nights will remain cold; mid-teens to lower 20s. Any melting could easily re-freeze overnight. 

A clipper system may bring snow showers or a round of light snow Wednesday into early Thursday. While accumulations shouldn't be too large, it could make for slippery travel and slow the snow removal process that has been ongoing for days. Stay with the WJZ First Alert Weather Team. We'll be fine-tuning the forecast through the weekend and into next week.