NWS keeps tonight's snow to our west
Today's snow forecast map from the National Weather Service keeps all of tonight's expected snowfall well to our west. While the northern and western suburbs may see some flakes, any accumulations are expected to be in the higher elevations of the Piedmont and west of the Blue Ridge. But there may be more to watch by Friday.
High pressure hanging in to our north is continuing to keep air at the surface in Central Maryland unseasonably cold. Forecasters say the low-pressure system moving out of the Central Plains into the Tennessee Valley will begin to throw some high clouds our way later today, and start the rain by midday Wednesday.
Some snow could mix in by Wednesday evening after 9 p.m., continuing into Thursday morning. Then it should be all rain showers. Expect a chilly (40s) ands dank (east winds) day Wednesday in Central Maryland.
Accumulating snow is likely along and west of the Blue Ridge Wednesday morning and again in the evening. Forecasters say higher elevations could see 2 to 4 inches. There is a Winter Weather Advisory out for Allegany County.
There's still a chance for rain or snow Thursday before noon in Central Maryland. And there's a coastal storm forecast by some models for Thursday night through Friday night. Here's how the forecasters at Sterling described it in this morning's forecast discussion:
"The intensification could be rapid ... Wintry precipitation would be west/north of the system. For now, rain/snow east of I-95 and all snow at higher elevations Thursday night. This will need to be closely monitored as plenty of Gulf/Gulf Stream moisture is available to the developing storm."
Comments
Can you go out on a limb and tell us the weather for the first two Oriole Home Game next week? Do I need a parka, raincoat, suntan lotion, or all the above?
FR: Wednesday is too far out for any sensible prediction now. But Monday's forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, a chance of rain and a high around 62 degrees. Generally, the long-range (6-10-day) forecast calls for cooler and wetter weather than the average for this time of year in the mid-Atlantic.
Posted by: Capt Jack | March 29, 2011 12:24 PM
What's it going to take to move this Canadian high out to sea? It can't just sit there all spring, right? Has this ever done this before?
FR: Who knows? The NAO is supposed to change in cycles measured in days or weeks. Nobody expected the negative NAO that set up in early December to last through January, either. Some forecasters are saying we could remain in this cool pattern right through April into May.
Posted by: Mike | March 29, 2011 2:34 PM