Tornado Watch Issued Ahead Of Severe Weather In MD

Forecasters on Wednesday afternoon issued a tornado watch for several Maryland counties as a powerful cold front moves into the state, bringing the possibility of severe thunderstorms, large hail and damaging winds to the Baltimore region.

Around 4:20 p.m., the National Weather Service expanded a tornado watch to include Baltimore City and the following counties: Howard, Montgomery, Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick. The alert is in effect until 8 p.m.

An earlier tornado watch remains in effect for Allegany and Garrett counties in Western Maryland.

Wednesday was forecast to start unseasonably warm with afternoon highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s, before a storm system that spawned damaging tornadoes and record-sized hail across the Midwest on Tuesday moves into the state this afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, the greatest likelihood for severe weather will be between 4 and 9 p.m. as the incoming cold front pushes across the state.

On Wednesday, much of Maryland remained at a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.

The National Weather Service said Wednesday's storm system may be capable of producing strong thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph, a few instances of large hail, and a few tornadoes, which could be strong.

"Pay close attention to warnings, should they be issued, and have multiple ways to receive them," the National Weather Service's Baltimore office wrote on X.

In their latest forecast, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said storms will likely be more numerous across northern Maryland and into the Potomac Highlands.

"Most short-term models don’t show much in the way of storm development in the Capital Beltway area. And those that show storms suggest they’ll be widely scattered," the Capital Weather Gang wrote. "Showers and perhaps some downpours are much more likely in the immediate D.C. area toward Thursday morning but are unlikely to be severe."

On Thursday, rain showers are likely during the morning and could linger into early afternoon, possibly mixing in with a snowflake or two.

This will be followed by a series of cold fronts crossing the area into early next week, leading to multiple temperature swings.

Temperatures are expected to take a 15- to 30-degree dive on Thursday before warming again this weekend. The Baltimore region should see temperatures in the mid- to upper 50s on Saturday and then 50s to low 60s on Sunday.

Temperatures will fall again early next week, ushering in a return to more winter-like conditions.

Here's a look at the detailed National Weather Service forecast for the Baltimore region:

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers after 2am. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 45. South wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Showers, mainly before 8am. Temperature falling to around 46 by 3pm. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a south wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.

Sunday Night: Rain, mainly after 2am. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: Rain. High near 62. Chance of precipitation is 80%.