Light rain moves up the bay
Early voters caught a break this morning as today's predicted rainfall held off through much of the morning. But forecasters say wetter weather is approaching central Maryland from the southeast, ahead of a strengthening low off the Carolina coast.
The Sterling radar loop shows the rain creeping north and east toward the Baltimore/Washington area. It should begin to be felt by late morning, then move inland. It won't be a gully washer - certainly not enough to chase off any voters waiting in outdoor lines. But an umbrella and rain gear might make the wait more comfortable. Temperatures are already approaching 60 degrees.
UPDATE: Light rain began at BWI before 11 a.m. Annapolis reported light rain and mist around 10 a.m.
Here's how Sterling's morning discussion put the rain threat to voters (with my edits in parentheses to clarify NWS abbreviations):
"HERE`S ONE WORD 4 U TDA...
VOTE!
ELECTION DAY MAY BE SOMEWHAT WET ACROSS THE (forecast area today)...BUT THIS
SHOULD DETER NO ONE (from) VOTING. (Precipitation) SHOULD BE ON THE (light)
SIDE...WITH TEMPS IN THE 50S OR (low) 60S DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE
AND WHAT TIME YOU GO TO THE POLLS. LOW (pressure) FORMING (southeast) OF HATTERAS
(predicted) TO MOVE SLOWLY (north)..WITH (precipitation) ... WORKING ITS WAY INTO LOWER (southern) MD ... AS THE (rainfall) TRIES TO TRACK FURTHER NW IT (will) BE RUNNING INTO
THE REMNANTS OF THE (ridge, or high pressure)..AND (probabilities of precipitation) DECREASE QUICKLY. BUT W/CONTINUED (easterly) FLOW GIVEN A STRONGER LOW FORMING OFF THE SE (coast, expect) PERIODIC RAIN FALL ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS AFTN. (Northwestern)
CORNER OF (forecast area) LEAST (likely) TO (have) ACCUMULATING (rainfall).
Here's the forecast. Plenty of chances for rain continuing through the afternoon and on into Wednesday and Thursday. We'll catch a break with "partly cloudy" skies on Friday, if the forecast holds up. But then another cold frontal passage will boost rain chances again on Saturday. Drier, cooler air will move in from the north and west late on Saturday and into next week.
