When 45 MPH Winds Will Hit MD As Cold Front Arrives

MARYLAND — A cold front pushed across Maryland Thursday afternoon, dropping temperatures, driving winds and making boating a hazard. A hazardous weather outlook was issued Thursday by the National Weather Service because of the risk for strong-to-severe thunderstorms.

The best chance for thunderstorms is before 5 p.m. and then a lesser chance for storms between 8 and 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Before the storms, many Maryland towns will reach a summery high temperature in the low 80s.

The cold front should cross the area by 5:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, accompanied by brief rains
and a few thunderstorms, as well as a wind shift from southwest to northwest with gusts to around 45 mph, the weather service said. A few storms could become severe with stronger, damaging wind gusts.

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

The outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

An isolated severe thunderstorm is possible this afternoon into the evening.

Inclement weather may disrupt two-way operations (during which one lane of eastbound traffic is directed to the westbound span) at the Bay Bridge, the Maryland Transportation Authority said. Two-way use is not allowed during bridge wind warnings or restrictions, fog or limited visibility or times of precipitation.

Drivers may face eastbound delays during the afternoon rush-hour. Weather and traffic volumes permitting, the bridge officials will implement two-way operations to help alleviate eastbound delays at the Bay Bridge.

For up-to-date information, call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) or follow the agency at twitter.com/TheMDTA.

Much of the Easter weekend will be unsettled as cold fronts move through Maryland and bring rain.

"A stronger cold front will cross the region this afternoon," the National Weather Service said. "High pressure will build into the area on Friday, while another cold front moves in on Saturday. Unsettled conditions return early next week as another system moves through."

In the DC metro, showers and storms move through late Thursday afternoon and evening.

"Friday will be superbly sunny and mild," the Capital Weather Gang at the Washington Post wrote. "Saturday is mild, too, but stray showers are possible. Clear skies return for Easter Sunday, but that bunny will feel a chill."

Here's the latest Maryland forecast from the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 5pm, then a chance of showers. Increasing clouds, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 53. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

Saturday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. South wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.