The Winter of 2008-09 continues to follow its script this week as yet another winter storm promises to brush the area with a hint of winter, but little of its inconvenience.

Forecasters at Sterling are calling for stubbornly seasonable fare this week, with both high and low temperatures sticking closer to the long-term norms (45 and 26 degrees) for Baltimore. Sunshine will be the rule until late Tuesday, when the high-pressure system now dominating the eastern half of the country moves east, and a new storm approaches from the west.

The center of the low is forming now in the Rocky Mountains. By Wednesday it will pass over the Great Lakes, to our north and west. So the associated cold front will pass by us at mid-week with little to offer but rain. Cold temperatures before daybreak on Wednesday could mean a bit of snow before it all changes to rain. But most of the event is expected to be rain for us. Highs Wednesday will rise well into the 40s.

Rain is okay. Southern Maryland and the southern portion of the Eastern Shore are both running abnormally dry for the first time since mid-December, according to the Drought Monitor.

The rain will continue Thursday as a "chance" of showers. Western counties and higher elevations could see some small accumulations.

Then, high pressure returns as the front passes by. Friday looks sunny. Saturday clouds up, however as a clipper system barrels through with yet another chance for a "wintry mix." Sunday looks sunny again. 

By then we will have passed through what are arguably the snowiest 10 dates of the year without much to write about ... a relief to many, a disappointment to the rest.