Thunderstorms, Tornadoes A Threat Thursday: MD Weather Forecast

MARYLAND — Strong storms are expected to sweep across Maryland Thursday afternoon, with heavy rain and powerful winds in the forecast.

After several days of cooler weather, spring and early summerlike weather officially returns to the forecast Thursday, when the high will climb close to 70, according to the National Weather Service.

With a strong cold front headed to Maryland, though, gusty winds are expected, creating a potential for severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts are the main threat, but hail or a few tornadoes are possible. Strong winds may lead to isolated instances of wind damage even outside of thunderstorms.

"Be sure to have a way to receive weather alerts, and have a plan to seek shelter quickly in case severe weather threatens your neighborhood," the NWS said.

Wind gusts could reach 40 mph in Maryland, with thunderstorms producing even stronger winds, according to the weather service.

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

Areas in the hazardous weather outlook include Cecil, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Montgomery, Howard and Harford counties.

A gale warning is in effect through Thursday evening.

Stormy weather may disrupt two-way operations (during which one lane of eastbound traffic is directed to the westbound span) at the Bay Bridge Thursday and Friday.

The Bay Bridge is under limited wind restrictions Thursday morning, which are enacted when there are sustained wind speeds of 40 to 49 mph for 10 minutes or more, or wind gusts persistently exceed 40 mph over 15 minutes.

When wind restrictions are in place, house trailers and empty box trailers are prohibited from traveling the bridge.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang noted that March is definitely not going out like a lamb, with south winds gusting to 45 mph.

As temperatures climb into the lower 70s, the warmth "is enough to set off some late-day thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, and even a tornado is possible," the Capital Weather Gang said.

The stormy conditions should quiet down after midnight, according to the Capital Weather Gang. On Friday, April 1, high temperatures are forecast in the high 50s, but it will feel colder due to gusty winds throughout the day.

Here's the NWS forecast for Maryland through the weekend:

Thursday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3am, then a chance of showers. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Low around 51. South wind 10 to 18 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60.