Rain, 'Unseasonably Mild' Temps For New Year's Holiday: MD Weather

MARYLAND — A week after Maryland residents shivered in temperatures that plunged into the teens and were in the midst of a flash freeze that caused power outages, the end of 2022 and the start of 2023 will prove to be much warmer.

After much of the state enjoyed temperatures in the upper 50s on Friday, temperatures are expected to remain mild throughout the long holiday weekend, forecasters are predicting. Rain will move in Saturday afternoon through the evening, but the sun will shine on Sunday, Jan. 1, according to the National Weather Service.

The city of Annapolis postponed its New Year’s Eve fireworks due to rain in the forecast on New Year's Eve. Early Saturday morning, rain and gusty winds are expected to move into the area around 4 a.m. and continue through 4 a.m. on Sunday. The fireworks display will instead take place at 5:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, in the Annapolis Harbor.

"Unseasonably mild temperatures continue (Friday) with increasing clouds late," the National Weather Service said. "Highs will climb into the upper 50s and low to mid 60s, which is 10-20 degrees above average for this time of year. Rain chances return #NewYearsEve with drier weather to start 2023."

Temperatures will be 50, 60 and even 70 degrees Fahrenheit higher this weekend compared to the sub-zero conditions during Christmas weekend, according to AccuWeather.com.

Any time a flow of warm, moist air occurs over snow cover, cold ground or chilly bodies of water, there is the potential for fog. Some of these conditions will be present in portions of the central Appalachians, the mid-Atlantic and New England regions from Saturday through Saturday night.

AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno urged drivers who will be headed out to ring in the new year to be extra careful. "Lots of fog will be present around the Northeast region Saturday night," he said.

Here's the latest Maryland weather forecast:

Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. Calm wind.

Saturday: Rain likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Light and variable wind becoming west around 6 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Tuesday: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 40%.