Storms In MD Labor Day Weekend: What To Expect

BALTIMORE, MD — If you have big plans to sun bathe and enjoy beaches on the Eastern Shore this weekend in Maryland, you might be able to squeeze it in. The weather shouldn't be as bad as other weekends that have made much of this summer a washout. But first we have to get through a rainy Friday that has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood watch until midnight.

While continuous rains are not expected, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Carl Babinski expects a completely dry day to be hard to come by across the mid-Atlantic region from Saturday to Monday (Labor Day). After that, more thunderstorms are possible, but the chances diminish on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. (See forecast below).

And as the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang notes: "Oppressively muggy and steamy conditions persist for our foreseeable future."

The flash flood watch for parts of Maryland, D.C. and Virginia is in effect from noon on Friday until midnight.
Slow-moving thunderstorms may develop through Friday afternoon and evening, causing low-lying areas to flood. A flash flood watch means that there is the potential for flash flooding, which can be life-threatening. Heavy rain in a short time can lead to flash flooding, or a rapid rise in water level.

AccuWeather says Maryland and Virginia will have to dodge showers and thunderstorms in between cookouts, camping trips and other Labor Day weekend activities. Storms are likely to be most active in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to an AccuWeather release. While some sunshine is expected on Monday, Babinski anticipates showers and thunderstorms to develop, especially over interior locales.

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The storms throughout Labor Day weekend will be hit-or-miss in nature, soaking some communities but missing others just a few miles away, according to the weather site. Although Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, the season's heat and humidity may have some staying power for much of next week.

"Any tropical depressions, storms or hurricanes that develop near the Bahamas or in the Gulf of Mexico could pump heat and humidity farther to the north over the U.S. next week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in the release.

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Here is the extended Maryland weekend forecast from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 83. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Labor Day: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Graphic by AccuWeather; photo via Shutterstock