High Impact Snowstorm In Maryland Possible This Weekend

BALTIMORE, MD — Warming March temperatures and shifts in weather patterns are leaning toward a "high-impact storm" that could hit Maryland this weekend. The state has seen as much ice as it has snow this winter, but that could change on Sunday, forecasters say.

Accuweather meteorologists say by Sunday rain will spread from Virginia to Georgia. But snow or a wintry mix may develop in parts of West Virginia, central Maryland and the mountains of western Virginia. The National Weather Service also calls for chances of rain and snow in Maryland Sunday into Monday. For once, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang has more dire predictions for heavy snow along the I-95 corridor than other weather forecasts.

Assuming the storm materializes, this is most likely to be one in which the heaviest snow falls north and west of Washington and Baltimore. But it's way too soon to know what will materialize.

"A high-impact storm capable of producing large amounts of snow, rain and wind, as well as coastal flooding, is a realistic scenario for Sunday and Monday," The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang says. "However, there is still the chance the storm will miss."

As is usually the case in March, more snow would fall north and west of D.C. where temperatures are likely to be cooler. (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Unfortunately, right now things are so up in the air that CWG isn't even giving a range of possible snowfall totals. Once again, there's also the possibility that temperatures stay warm enough that it ends up being a rain event. So we'll have to watch the forecasts closely in the coming days.

Meanwhile, in New England, a Nor'easter continues to pound the area with snow. They're up to 36 inches and counting, as we sit here snowless. Is our turn next?

Cecil, Baltimore and Harford counties received the most snow from the tail end of that storm that grazed Maryland, with 5.5 inches of snow in Rising Sun and 4.5 inches of snow measured in Churchville. The bigger problem for Maryland was last week's high winds that downed trees, killed one person, closed some of the major bridges, and knocked out power to a quarter of a million residents at one point.

SEE ALSO:

Maryland Snow Totals Town By Town For March 7 2018

MD Nor'easter Aftermath: 224K Without Power, 1 Dead, Trees Down

Here's the latest National Weather Service forecast:

Thursday Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. West wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tonight: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. West wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 6 to 11 mph.

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

Sunday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 1am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Includes reporting from Patch Editor Dan Taylor

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