Air Quality Alert Then Perfect Mother's Day: MD Weather Forecast

MARYLAND — A "code orange" air quality alert is in effect Friday for the Baltimore metropolitan area as highs in the mid-80s mingle with wildfire smoke in the atmosphere. But by Mother's Day on Sunday, Maryland weather will be picture perfect.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issues a "code orange" alert when pollution concentrations may be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, older adults, heart/lung disease sufferers and asthmatics are considered sensitive.

Temperatures are expected to reach 85 degrees in the region Friday.

"It will feel more summer-like today as highs soar into the mid 80s, accompanied by increasing humidity. The best chance for thunderstorms would mainly be west of D.C. Saturday will bring additional rain with cooler weather into early next week," the National Weather Service said.

For the rest of the Mother's Day weekend, expect showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening. Sunday should be perfect with mostly sunny skies and a high near 76 degrees.

The warmup comes almost exactly a month after temperatures shattered records for April in the region and not long after May began with chilly conditions more typical of March, AccuWeather said. "While this surge of warmer air is not expected to be record-breaking, the warm spell will still represent a taste of summer for millions with more than a month to go until the official start of the season."

As quickly as the warmth builds in, it will start to fade away this weekend for Mother’s Day, AccuWeather said, and into next week, as cooler air moves in from Canada. However, temperatures are not expected to fall to below-normal levels for the middle of May.

Smoke may be trapped Friday near the surface, adding to local emissions impacts and increasing morning fine particle concentrations, the MDE said. "Ozone present in the smoke, added to local emissions in a near-stagnant environment Friday afternoon will lead to unseasonable ozone development in temperatures above normal for this time of year," the agency said.

Along the I-95 corridor and downstream of the urban centers, ozone may reach unsafe levels for sensitive groups. In addition, hazy conditions are expected from enhanced fine particle concentrations, which may be greatest in the early morning, while ozone will peak in the later afternoon.

Improved air conditions are expected Saturday, the alert said, and good air quality should return on Sunday.

Here's the Maryland weekend weather forecast:

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. High near 78. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tips For Coping With Poor Air Quality

On unhealthy air days, authorities suggest these health precautions:

• Children and older adults should reduce outdoor activities.
• Healthy individuals should limit strenuous work or exercise, especially outdoors.
• Individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis should limit their activity level. If breathing becomes difficult, move indoors.

Residents can check current air quality conditions on COG's website or by downloading a free air quality app from Clean Air Partners.

On unhealthy air days, residents are encouraged to take steps to help reduce pollution:

• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home.
• Avoid lawn mowing or use an electric mower.
• Use transit, carpool, or work from home to limit driving. Fill up your gas tank during evening hours.

Visit the Maryland Department of the Environment for more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles.