MD Weather Forecast: Weekend Rain, Snow, Sleet Follow 65 Degrees

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The springlike warm-up that brought 65-degree highs to Maryland will be fleeting. A strong cold front will push out the warmth and bring snow this weekend, say forecasters with the National Weather Service. "One more warm day today before winter returns Saturday. Morning showers, otherwise cloudy with highs in the 60s," the service said on Facebook Friday.

AccuWeather said to be aware of a "multi-faceted storm" from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast. "Rounds of heavy rain and fog will be the triggers for airline and ground transportation delays from Virginia to coastal Maine," the weather site says.

"Temperatures may surge to record high levels in some areas before much colder air returns," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines.

Look for showers mainly before 2 p.m. along with patchy fog and a high near 65. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected. Friday night expect rain before 11 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm overnight with a chance of rain and thunderstorms after 5 a.m. with a low around 31. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

On Saturday the forecast is messy, with a 40 percent chance of rain, snow, and sleet before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of snow between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The temperature will fall to around 29 late in the afternoon. Northwest winds of 16 to 20 mph will gust as high as 39 mph.

Following the surge of warmth, colder air will rapidly invade the region, while the storm is still in progress. In a matter of a few hours, temperatures will plunge from balmy levels in the 60s and 50s to the 30s and 20s, warns AccuWeather. Drivers on the highways from West Virginia and western Maryland to western and northern Pennsylvania, much of upstate New York and western and northern New England will be at risk for getting caught up in an ice and snowstorm during Friday night and Saturday.

You’ll notice how quickly winter has returned as the sun rises. Gusty northwesterly winds may average in the 15- to 20-mph threshold, so do bundle up since wind chills could dip back toward 20 degrees or so. Even as skies slowly clear, temperatures continue to fall from around 40 in the morning to perhaps 30 degrees as the sun

The weekend forecast:

Friday: Periods of rain, showers, especially a.m. Highs: Mid- to upper 60s.

Friday night: Increasing rain chances/intensity and wind. Lows: 30s.

Saturday: Blustery. Highs around 40 falling to around 30.

Sunday: Mainly sunny, breezy. Highs: Mid-20s to around 30.

Main image via Pixabay, graphic by AccuWeather