Potential For Damaging 50MH Winds In MD Weather Forecast

MARYLAND — Parts of Maryland could be hit with some strong winds on Wednesday and Thursday, with gusts reaching up to 55 mph in some areas and pushing in colder temperatures, according to forecasts.

Most guidance shows around 40 to 50 mph winds higher in the atmosphere, while a large portion of those winds should make it to the surface, causing gusts around 30 to 45 mph most likely, but some gusts around 50 mph are possible, according to the National Weather Service. The best chance will be in the mountains, as well as northern Maryland.

"A wind advisory may be needed," the agency said Tuesday.

"The northwest winds will bring in much chillier conditions, with lows in the 20s and 30s (teens in the mountains). Dry conditions are expected for most areas. There may be a few snow showers along and west of the Allegheny Front, but even there moisture looks to be quite limited so little or no accumulation is expected, the NWS said.

The quick temperature drop could cause slippery conditions as temperatures fall below freezing late Wednesday into Wednesday evening. But the odds lean toward dry and windy conditions with a lower risk of widespread flash freeze, the weather service forecast said.

At the same time, temperatures should reach the low 60s Wednesday before falling into the low 30s overnight. Thursday's daytime high will only reach about 46 in many places, according to the forecast.

Gusts between 40 and 60 mph are likely to spread rapidly eastward on Wednesday and Wednesday night from New England, New York, New Jersey and Delaware to Maryland and Virginia, Accuweather.com said. At this force, tree limbs can break, weak trees can be blown over, and loose objects such as trash cans and recycling bins can become projectiles. Sporadic to regional power outages are likely.

Along the Interstate-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, the strongest gusts are likely from Wednesday afternoon to Wednesday night, Accuweather said.

Here is the latest Maryland forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 45. Southeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Rain before noon, then showers, mainly between noon and 4pm. High near 61. South wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Saturday: A chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%.