MD Weather: Rain, Flash Freeze From Arctic Temps Before Christmas

MARYLAND — Whether your holiday plans include driving in the mid-Atlantic region or flying, the days ahead of Christmas could bring some troublesome winter weather. Forecasters expect a combination of rain, a flash freeze and powerful winds on Thursday and Friday, leading into what could be a bitterly cold Christmas.

The forecast currently calls for mostly rain. There's a chance, however, that a band of cold Arctic air could push down toward Maryland and change that to a wintry mix or snow on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for the region due to winds and a rapid freeze starting Friday. The message includes the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

Maryland counties specifically under the hazard outlook are: Cecil, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Montgomery, Howard and Harford.

Forecasters say high winds Friday morning through the evening could cause tree damage and isolated power outages. Then, plummeting temperatures Friday may cause icy travel conditions.
On Friday and Saturday nights, "dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills" are anticipated, according to the National Weather Service.

Related: Airlines Offer Travel Waivers As Bomb Cyclone Approaches Maryland

A gale watch is in effect for all the waters Friday morning through Friday evening.

"There is a likelihood of dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills Friday night and Saturday night," the NWS said. "Have a plan to protect you, your pets, livestock, and other property that are sensitive to extreme cold conditions."

Potential precipitation impacts begin early Thursday, when the National Weather Service says there is a slight chance of rain, freezing rain and sleet in the early morning in DC. Rain is likely through Thursday as temperatures near 50.

Related:

• Massive Holiday Storm Delivers Snow, Frigid Air To Much Of U.S.
• Polar Weather: How To Keep Pipes From Freezing; Should You Warm Car?

On Friday, rain will continue as temperatures reach 51 degrees. That will change as an Arctic cold front starting in the midday cases temperatures to drop 15 to 25 degrees in a matter of hours, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. Forecasters expect temperatures to be close to freezing by the late afternoon or evening.

"There’s an outside chance some wet areas could flash-freeze, although strong winds might dry things out before that can happen," the Post said. "Rain should cut off fairly quickly around the time of the midday cold front, but it could briefly change to snow before ending."

The sudden freeze will seem colder in the afternoon due to windy conditions. By the night, it will be even colder as the National Weather Service expects a low temperature of 16 in the Baltimore area. A snow flurry or snow shower at night wasn't ruled out by the Capital Weather Gang.

"While snow lovers may cringe and travelers may breathe a sigh of relief at the forecast of rain from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, the impending storm is still likely to cause trouble," according to AccuWeather.

The patchy snow and ice could develop across a large area and cover portions of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. The wintry weather will also extend into the northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the western portions of North Carolina and Virginia.

Poor weather could disrupt travel plans for the 2.2 million Marylanders who plan to drive at least 50 miles for Christmas and New Year's.

"As cold air sweeps in the wake of a strong cold front, the sky will clear, and roads will dry off in most cases in the I-95 corridor from late Friday to Saturday," said Adam Douty, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. "However, some patches of ice are likely as temperatures plummet."

Related: Best, Worst Times To Get Out Of MD For Christmas, New Year's Travel

Here is the latest National Weather Service's forecast for Maryland:

Tuesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Light northeast wind.

Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 33. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.

Thursday: Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 48. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday: Rain, mainly before 1pm. High near 51. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Breezy.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 28.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 27.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 33.