Gorgeous, but watch those smokes
A brush fire in Westernport in 2001 - Sun photo by Doug Kapustin
Baltimore weather doesn't get too much better than today's. But there is rain in the wings, so enjoy the day.
Forecasters out at Sterling are looking for highs here today in the mid-80s, with strong May sunshine to bake out the last chill of winter in your bones. Look for sunbathers on the "beach" at Hopkins. Better yet, be one.
Eighty-degree days in early May are at least 10 degrees above the long-term averages. Today's glorious weather comes with a hitch, however. Forecasters warn that Central Maryland will also see falling humidities - down into the 30-percent range. (I'm looking at 40 percent and dropping fast on our instruments here at Calvert & Centre streets. You can watch the humidity drop at BWI by clicking here.)
Add in increasing winds this afternoon, and you get a "heightened fire weather risk" this afternoon. Drop a cigarette in the wrong spot and you could soon have more trouble than you want.
But once today is behind us, we should expect increasing clouds and rain chances into the next few days. Blame the departure of the high-pressure system now over the Carolinas. It has delivered this fine weather, but as it heads out to sea tonight, we'll fall into a return southerly flow from the backside of the departing high. That brings in more clouds, and more moisture.
So, forecasters expect 50 to 60 percent chances for showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday. The heaviest totals would come late Thursday and Friday if the forecasters have it right - as much as an inch.
For Saturday, they're looking for a brief break in the weather, with sunny skies but cooler, more seasonable highs near 70 degrees. Then another low is due here Sunday and the early part of next week, bringing us windier and cooler weather.
Here's what today's clear skies look like from the other side of the atmosphere:
