'Significant' Storm Could Snarl Early Holiday Travel In MD: Timing, What To Expect

MARYLAND — Enjoy the next couple of days of sunshine, Marylanders. A late-weekend storm is expected to bring heavy rains and gusty winds to the region, threatening flooding and snarling early holiday traffic.

Just a week after a strong system hammered much of the East Coast, this new storm will take shape over Maryland and other mid-Atlantic states Sunday night into Monday, according to a recent Accuweather forecast.

The storm will bring strong winds, rain and possible flooding to areas along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor, forecasters said. The interior mid-Atlantic and the Delmarva Peninsula should experience the heaviest rains through Sunday night, according to Accuweather forecasters.

"While there remains some question in terms of the exact track and intensity of this storm, confidence is growing for a significant rain and wind event, especially from the Chesapeake Bay Area to most of southern New England," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said.

"We are facing yet another major storm Sunday, probably arriving late day. Gusty winds and heavy rain should impact the entire area into Monday," according to the Capital Weather Gang.

"Clouds quickly fill in Sunday as the storm starts to lumber up the Atlantic coast. Showers could begin to scatter into the area by afternoon. Highs should hold in the upper 40s to lower 50s. East winds build quickly in the evening with heavy rains likely through the night," the Post said. "Totals with this storm could again end up in the 1-3 inch range. On Monday the storm passes by, and rains begin to taper off. Winds lighten up during the morning but are likely to be howling out of the northwest by the afternoon."

The storm could also have wide-ranging effects on travel. According to Accuweather, Interstates 20, 40, 64, 80, 81, 84 and 95 are among those that could be impacted.

Effects may also be felt at airports across the country with potential delays at big hubs in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

But there's good news. According to forecasters, the days leading up to the storm will offer a calm reprieve with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

Here's the forecast for Friday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday: Sunny with a high near 58. West wind 7 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear with a low around 38. West wind around 6 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 42.

Sunday: Rain likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: Rain likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 70%.