Hurricane Isaias' anticipated Florida landfall is teeing Maryland up for a cloudy, wet weekend that will see heavy showers and thunderstorms as the main headliner.
Dry conditions will stick around Friday and Saturday, with peak temperatures staying in the mid-70s on both days. By Sunday, however, things take a dark turn.
Forecasts released by the National Weather Service indicate the first round of showers gets underway after 2 a.m. Sunday, potentially totalling a tenth and quarter of an inch.
Sunday will see intermittent showers before thunderstorms move into the region after 5 p.m. Marylanders can expect wind gusts to get as high as 24 mph.
The storms are forecast to stick around through Sunday night, and potentially through Monday morning. NWS says there's a 60% chance the showers will impact commuters before 8 a.m. Monday.
Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall near Florida's Pensacola Beach area between 8 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday.
While the storm was upgraded to a Category 3 storm, AccuWeather reports it's possible the cyclone may make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane.
"Isaias is in a race against the clock," AccuWeather expert meteorologist Tyler Roys said in a statement. "Strong winds high in the atmosphere are expected to disrupt the hurricane before landfall, but if those winds arrive even a few hours later than expected, Isais could maintain its Category 3 strength."
"Regardless of whether it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane or Category 3 hurricane, communities along the Gulf Coast face a serious threat from life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding."
The latest advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center states Isaias is moving in a north-northeast direction at a pace of 16 mph.
"Weakening is expected beginning tonight after Isaias makes landfall, and the storm is likely to become post-tropical by late Saturday," reads the alert.
Anywhere between 2 and 5 inches of rain, with isolated totals of up to 10 inches, could occur across the U.S. Southeast region. A tornado risk is also possible through the weekend, according to the NWS.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 5 to 7 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Showers after 2 a.m. Low around 61. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. High near 68. East wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday (Columbus Day): Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
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