Near-record cold arrives this weekend, heavy snow remains possible
Following a brief warming trend across Maryland, even colder weather blows in this weekend along with a chance of heavy snow. Saturday and Sunday are First Alert Weather Days, due to dangerous cold and a risk of impactful snow in the Baltimore area.
Bitterly cold early Wednesday in Baltimore
It'll be frigid, once again, early Wednesday morning. However, there won't be as much of a breeze. Temperatures may dip below 10° outside of the beltway and low to mid-teens across the immediate metro.
A Code Blue Alert for extreme cold continues for Baltimore City through Wednesday morning. Please check-in on the elderly, sick, and the homeless to make sure they're safe and warm.
Briefly warmer later this week in Maryland
Following a bitterly cold Wednesday morning, temperatures warm towards 40° on Wednesday afternoon. Plan on a mix of sun and clouds, along with a chilly breeze. Snow showers are expected in the mountains of Garrett and Allegany Counties. A few sprinkles are possible across the metro later in the evening.
Temperatures warm even further on Thursday. Most communities will warm into the mid and upper 40s by the middle of the afternoon. A few spots will top 50°, with more clouds and a breeze. There will be more clouds and a chance of spotty light rain. Most will remain dry.
Get out and enjoy Thursday. Bitterly cold weather is a guarantee as we head into the weekend. Heavy snow is also possible.
Near-record cold in Maryland this weekend, heavy snow possible
The WJZ First Alert Weather Team has tagged Saturday and Sunday as First Alert Weather Days due to the extreme cold and the possibility of a significant snow event.
The overall weather pattern and data from computer models continue to suggest a very cold and stormy weekend across much of the southern and eastern U.S. However, the exact track of any winter storm will determine how impactful it is to Maryland. A significant amount of snow is still possible late Saturday into Sunday, depending on the exact track of the storm.
There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the exact track of this winter storm. This is typical for several days out. One way that Maryland would dodge a significant winter storm, is if the storm remain much farther south - keeping wintry weather impacts confined to the deep south and southeast.
Either way, extreme cold will be an issue through the weekend. Afternoon temperatures will only top-out in the upper teens and lower 20s. Wind-chills will dip below 0° at times.
The WJZ First Alert Weather Team will be updating the weekend forecast through the week. Keep a closer-than-normal eye on the forecast. Disruptive, possibly dangerous weather is expected this weekend. The forecast impacts will become clearer late Wednesday, into Thursday.