Rainy conditions could snarl travel plans on Thanksgiving Day before a cold front moves into Maryland. See the latest forecast.
Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff
|Updated Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 10:56 am ET
MARYLAND — Weather should remain mild and clear for pre-Thanksgiving travelers in Maryland, but those driving on the holiday could face clouds, rain and cooler temperatures on Thursday.
Holiday travel should be a breeze on Wednesday with partly sunny skies, calm winds and a high temperature near 57 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. As the day progresses, however, residents should expect increasing clouds through Wednesday evening before showers arrive around midnight, forecasters said.
"Rain intensity may pick up a bit into the early morning hours and fog could develop," the Capital Weather Gang said in its latest forecast. "Nearer and into sunrise, waves of steadier rain — perhaps even a quick downpour — are possible. Winds are fairly negligible as temperatures hover within a few degrees of 45."
According to the NWS, rain is likely to persist through Thursday's early afternoon hours. Up to an inch of rain is possible. Blustery conditions are also possible with winds reaching 22 mph.
Heading into the weekend, a cold front will move across the region on Friday, bringing more winter-like temperatures to the area.
Find out what's happening in Towsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Dry weather returns for good on Friday but a mid-winter chill will come along with it," said NBC Washington meteorologist Chuck Bell. "From Saturday onward into next week is likely going to be our longest stretch of below average temperatures since the first week of September when being colder than average was viewed much more favorably."
Accuweather expects colder air will move into the eastern U.S. from the northern Plains and Midwest and major lake-effect snow around the Great Lakes. In the DC region, the Capital Weather Gang hasn't ruled out a bit of snowflakes mixed with rain Friday, with high temperatures in the 40s.
After temperatures dip into the 20s Friday night, a chilly weekend will ensue, with the chance of snow showers and flurries Saturday night into Sunday.
Here's the latest Baltimore-area forecast from the National Weather Service:
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Rain, mainly after midnight. Low around 46. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Rain, mainly before 1pm. High near 53. East wind 6 to 13 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 42.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.