Maryland Weather Forecast: Air Quality Alert, But Cool Temps on the Way

BALTIMORE, MD — There's an air quality alert across most of Maryland Monday, but it won't be long before we're seeing cooler temperatures and clear skies.

The "code orange" alert for the Baltimore and Washington, DC, areas means that air pollution may be unhealthy for children, the elderly and those with asthma or heart and lung diseases. "The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors," according to the National Weather Service.

The week kicks off with patchy fog Monday morning, followed by mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 90s. It'll be slightly cooler and a little windy Tuesday.

Wednesday offers our best chance for an afternoon shower or storm. And Thursday begins to cool things down. By Friday, we're looking at a high of 80, and overnight lows near 60 degrees.

It won't last forever. The temperatures climb back to the mid-80s by Sunday and it looks like we'll be back to normal by early next week, but the weekend will be about as pleasant as we've seen in some time.

This week's big weather story: hurricane season. Forecasters are watching several storm systems in the Atlantic, including Tropical Depression 8, which looks like it will become a tropical storm before dumping heavy rains on North Carolina early this week.

Here's the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:

Monday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of showers before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.