A winter storm watch has been issued ahead of an incoming Arctic cold front, increasing Maryland's expected accumulating snow this weekend.
Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff
|Updated Fri, Jan 17, 2025 at 6:08 pm ET
BALTIMORE, MD — A winter storm is predicted to develop along an incoming Arctic cold front this weekend, increasing Maryland's chances of seeing accumulating snow.
Estimates by the National Weather Service on Friday called for snowfall amounts of 4 inches in Westminster; 3 inches in Bel Air, Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick and suburbs close to Washington, D.C.; with 2 inches of snow expected in Hagerstown and areas further west.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from late Saturday night to Sunday evening for Carroll, Baltimore, Montgomery, Howard, and Harford counties. Heavy snow is possible, with total snow accumulations up to 5 inches possible.
Skies will gradually clear on Friday, giving Baltimore area residents a mild day of sunshine and temperatures in the lower to mid-40s before conditions change on Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service's latest forecast, there's a chance of snow Saturday before 10 a.m. Snow is expected to transition to rain showers by late morning and continue into the afternoon.
Find out what's happening in Bel Airfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A relative lull is expected by late afternoon and evening Saturday as an Arctic cold front and low pressure system pushes to the east. A second wave of low pressure will then take shape over the Tennessee Valley, which forecasters said will become Sunday's winter storm.
Depending on how the storm evolves, forecasters said the Baltimore region could see as much as 3 inches of snow on Sunday.
"Computer models vary significantly in their predictions for how much snow will fall Sunday," the Capital Weather Gang said in its latest forecast. "The more reliable models suggest about 1 to 3 inches in the region. But some of the outlier models, which can’t totally be discounted, simulate anything from no snow to 10 inches."
By Sunday, a polar vortex — a stormy ring that typically keeps the coldest air locked up near the North Pole — will settle over Maryland and bring bitter and dangerously cold temperatures to the Baltimore region.
Temperatures on Sunday will reach the 30s before falling into the mid-20s on Monday. Lows will plunge into the single digits before the most frigid temperatures arrive Tuesday. According to the NWS, Tuesday will see a high of 21 degrees and a low of 8.
Here's a look at the detailed Baltimore-area National Weather Service forecast through Tuesday:
Friday: Mostly cloudy early, then becoming sunny, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 32. South wind 5 to 8 mph.
Saturday: A chance of snow showers before 10am, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10am and noon, then a chance of rain showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 4am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: Snow likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 34. North wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A chance of snow before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 23.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 8.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 21.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8
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