Polar Vortex To Bring Cold Blast, Snow Chance To MD Weather

MARYLAND — The polar vortex — that cap of cold air that normally hovers over the Arctic — is sliding from Canada to the United States, and will mean a chilly weekend that doesn't feel like spring in Maryland, weather forecasters said.

Low temperatures will drop into the mid-20s on both Sunday and Monday nights, while a mix of rain and snow is in the forecast for Tuesday and early Wednesday, the National weather Service said.

When the polar vortex is strong, it hovers near the North Pole, Accuweather said. But, when the weather system weakens, it often sends frigid air pouring south.

"A direct discharge of Arctic air will sweep into the northeastern quarter of the nation starting this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said, adding that the cold will linger into early next week.

Highs in late March usually reach the low 60s around the Chesapeake Bay, but will be 10 to 20 degrees colder this weekend in the region, Accuweather said.

At the peak of the cold wave early next week, high temperatures are likely to be in the 30s in Boston and New York City, near 40 in Philadelphia and the mid-40s in Washington, D.C., where the National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway.

"Widespread, gusty northwest winds may send AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures plummeting as low as zero F across the Appalachians and into the 20s along the I-95 corridor as soon as Sunday morning," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning there is a 30 percent chance of snow in the Baltimore region, the National Weather Service said. But the cold moves off mid-week with the high on Wednesday expected to reach 62 degrees, and temps will be close to 70 on Thursday.

Here's the Maryland weather forecast:

Friday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 61. West wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. West wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a west wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.