MD Weather: Snow Flurries, Sleet Before Temps Warm Up This Week

MARYLAND — While it's technically spring, Maryland is about to get hit by a taste of winter weather whiplash. Cold 40 mph winds will drive snow and sleet Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but it all melts away by Thursday when temperatures climb into the 70s.

Frigid temperatures, flurries and sleet are in the forecast this week until Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The end of wintry weather won't necessarily mean sunny skies, however — clouds, showers and a potential thunderstorm likely will dampen the return of spring-like conditions on Thursday, the forecast states.

The National Weather Service posted a hazardous weather outlook for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Included in the weather statement are: Cecil, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Montgomery, Howard and Harford counties.

A gale warning is in effect through Monday evening.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts are the main threat.

A gale watch is in effect Thursday afternoon and night.

Monday's forecast calls for snow showers this morning, then a chance of flurries in the afternoon, followed by rain and snow showers after 5 p.m.

There is a chance of sleet on Wednesday and then the chill finally moves out on Thursday.

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

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

Here's the complete National Weather Service forecast:

Monday: A slight chance of snow showers before 11am, then a chance of flurries between 11am and 5pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a northwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night: A chance of flurries with a slight chance of snow showers before 7pm, then a chance of flurries between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 22. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 21 mph decreasing to 9 to 14 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of sleet after 3am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 32. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and sleet before 9am, then a slight chance of rain between 9am and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Thursday: Showers after 9am. High near 72. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Thursday Night: Showers before 9pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 9pm and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday: A chance of showers before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57.