Frost, Freeze Warning, Snow In Western MD As Temps Plunge

VIRGINIA/DC — Much cooler temperatures are sweeping into Maryland on Tuesday, with highs expected only in the low- to mid-50s the next two days, and the first snow of this season expected in the state's far western counties.

Freeze warnings are in effect for Tuesday and Wednesday nights for western Maryland and large parts of Virginia.

Snow showers are forecast Tuesday night and Wednesday for Allegany and Garrett counties, and the mountains of West Virginia, with an inch possible.

Temperatures will turn cold Tuesday night, with lows around 40 in the inner suburbs and ranging from the lower to upper 30s in the outer suburbs. There’s a good chance of frost Tuesday through Thursday in western and northern Maryland before high temperatures rebound into the upper 60s to low 70s for the weekend.

“Temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal today under partly to mostly sunny skies,” the National Weather Service said in its Tuesday forecast for Northern Virginia and D.C. “More clouds and a few snow showers will be found west of the Allegheny Front.”

The NWS issued a hazardous weather statement for Cecil, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Montgomery, Howard, and Harford counties

This hazardous weather outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

“Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the NWS said.

Residents should take step to protect plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing, the weather service said.

Cooler temperatures were already being felt Tuesday morning. Temperatures were running 10 to 20 degree lower Tuesday morning than a day earlier. Most locales in the D.C. region were in the upper 30s and low 40s, NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell.

"If you have been waiting to down your fall fleece, the wait is over," Bell said.

With the cold mass in place, the region will see mostly dry conditions over the next few days, aside from the Allegheny Front and areas west of there, where there could be some snow.

"It may take until later Tuesday before it snows with enough persistence and intensity to cover the ground in some areas of the central Appalachians," AccuWeather said.

On Wednesday, stronger winds will bring a wind chill into effect, making it feel colder than the 50-degree temperatures in the forecast.

By Friday afternoon, sunny skies will help the temperatures rise into the middle to upper 60s. By Saturday, expect sunny skies and a return to near 70-degree temperatures.

Here's the NWS forecast for Maryland for the next few days:

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 8 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 39. West wind 3 to 8 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.