The National Weather Service is predicting an afternoon high Monday of 78 degrees at BWI-Marshall Airport. That's not a record. But Sterling pretty regularly underestimates high temperatures for Baltimore, so there's a good chance the airport will see something more than 78.

The record for Baltimore on an April 4 is 83 degrees, set in 1956. It just happens to be the lowest daily high-temperature record on the books for April, so it's low-hanging fruit. 

The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies today. The April sun is strong, so provided clouds don't dim the afternoon rays, we could well slip into the low 80s for the second time this year. The first, you'll recall, was the record high of 81 degrees, reached on March 18.

The welcome mild weather is the result of a warm front that passed through the region overnight. It is the precursor of a Midwest cold front that is approaching the Appalachians to our west. Its approach will be marked by gusty winds, showers and possibly thunderstorms, most likely after 11 p.m. Up to a quarter-inch of rain is possible, with more in thunderstorms. Damaging wind gusts and heavy rain are also in the cards tonight.

The front is due to pass over the Chesapeake Bay around sunrise Tuesday. Showers and storms are forecast to linger into the day, with another three-quarters of an inch of rain possible. Behind it they're expecting brisk northwest winds. They will begin to dry things out, clear the skies, and cool daytime highs back down to about 60 degrees for Wednesday.

Thursday remains sunny in the forecast, with highs warming to the mid-60s. But there's another chance for rain with a cold front due to pass by Friday afternoon and evening. If the forecast holds up, Saturday will bring mostly cloudy skies with highs in ther mid-60s. Sunday brings another chance for rain, but with milder temperatures in the mid-70s.