MD Weather: Snow Chances Mean Commuter Hazard Possible

BALTIMORE, MD — Four chances for snow loom in the seven-day forecast for Maryland, and bitterly cold temperatures are expected - particularly in the overnight hours, when it could plunge to as low as 16 degrees - just in time for the next holiday weekend. Forecasts call for New Year's Eve is supposed to be as cold as 28 degrees, with a low in the teens that night.

On top of that, there are four chances of snow to give Marylanders some travel headaches heading into New Year's Eve weekend. Snow could fall on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Saturday night, says the National Weather Service. There remains a large amount of uncertainty in the forecast, so the NWS is currently pegging the odds of snow at 20 to 30 percent for those days.

Tuesday afternoon the National Weather Service warned of a potential winter commuting hazard for the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region on Wednesday morning. A period of snow is possible that morning across the Baltimore/Washington metro areas with less than an inch accumulation likely on area roads.

If the snow falls during Wednesday morning's rush-hour, many roads could quickly turn icy. "This could lead to dangerous traveling conditions, multiple accidents, and extensive delays," the NWS says. "If commuting Wednesday morning, be aware of the possibility of significant travel disruptions. Plan ahead by allowing for extra travel time, and consider using public transportation and telework options."

Along with cities of Baltimore and Washington, DC. areas included in the weather advisory are Frederick, Carroll, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard, Harford counties in Maryland. Other cities included are Frederick, Ballenger Creek, Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Baltimore, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Camp Springs, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate, Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, Germantown, Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Lisbon, Columbia, Ellicott City, Jarrettsville, and Aberdeen.

Northern Virginia areas included in the weather statement are Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fauquier, Loudoun, Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Warrenton, Turnbull, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn, and Sterling.

The arctic cold wave gripping the central and eastern United States for the final week of 2017 is not expected to ease by the time tens of thousands of revelers celebrate New Year's Eve, according to AccuWeather.

"For those looking ahead to the New Year's holiday, the cold pattern that developed this week in the central and eastern part of the country is expected to persist for the remainder of 2017," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido said in a release.

The interaction between a storm in the South and a storm that will move across the Midwest will determine how the East Coast will be affected Friday into Saturday, according to AccuWeather. "The potential for a more substantial snowfall will be possible across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast if the northern storm links up with the southern storm," Vido said.

Lesser impacts are possible should the two storms fail to interact and the southern storm tracks eastward out to sea. However, a stronger interaction of the two could form a nor'easter along or just off the Atlantic coast.

"2017 will be ending on a cold note -- and 2018 doesn't look to start out any warmer either! Some towns will remain below freezing for the rest of the year," the Baltimore-Washington staff of the weather service said on Facebook.

Here is the forecast:

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. West wind 9 to 11 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday: Isolated snow showers before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 27. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of snow showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Saturday: A chance of snow after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27.

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