Maryland Weather: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Plus 50 MPH Gusts Possible

MARYLAND — Much of northern Maryland is under a severe thunderstorm watch Monday due to the potential for storms in the late afternoon and early evening. Wind gusts up to 50 mph prompted a wind advisory for most of the state.

These jurisdictions are under the severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m.: Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard and Washington counties and Baltimore City.

A severe thunderstorm watch means storms with the following are possible: winds of at least 58 mph and/or hail at least 1 inch in diameter.

"Isolated severe weather is still possible further south, however," the National Weather Service stated, "so everyone should still keep weather-aware this evening."

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A wind advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday for much of the state.

Winds of 15 to 25 mph may sweep through the region from the southwest, with gusts up to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service. In the evening, the wind will shift to the northeast.

People should secure objects outside. Drivers should be careful, especially with high-profile vehicles. Tree limbs may blow down, and a few power outages could result, officials say.

The wind advisory applies to these areas:

• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore City
• Baltimore County
• Calvert County
• Carroll County
• Cecil County
• Charles County
• Frederick County
• Harford County
• Howard County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George's County
• St. Mary's County

These Maryland towns may be impacted, officials say: Aberdeen, Annapolis, Arnold, Baltimore, Bethesda, Bowie, California, Chesapeake Beach, Clinton, Cockeysville, College Park, Columbia, Damascus, Dunkirk, Eldersburg, Elkton, Ellicott City, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Burnie, Greenbelt, Huntingtown, Jarrettsville, Laurel, Lexington Park, Lusby, North Beach, Odenton, Prince Frederick, Reisterstown, Rockville, Severna Park, Silver Spring, South Gate, Suitland-Silver Hill and Westminster. Washington, D.C., and parts of northern Virginia are also under the advisory.

The Bay Bridge is under limited wind restrictions, while the Hatem, Key and Nice/Middleton bridges are under wind warnings, the Maryland Transportation Authority reported after 3 p.m.

• Limited wind restrictions mean winds are greater than 40 mph and the following are prohibited from crossing: house trailers, empty box trailers or any vehicle that law enforcement officials think may not safely cross the bridge. Drivers denied passage will be assisted with turning around.
• During a wind warning, drivers of these vehicles should use extra caution while crossing the bridge: house trailers, box trailers, motorcycles, vehicles with roof-mount racks containing cargo or any other vehicle that may be subject to high winds.

State transportation officials advise keeping both hands on the wheel and slowing down during periods of strong winds.

The turbulent weather comes as a cold front approaches Maryland, which is currently in the midst of unseasonably warm temperatures; some parts of the state could hit 80 degrees Monday, on the heels of Sunday's temps in the high 70s.

Temperatures are expected to top 80 degrees on Monday in parts of Maryland, before dipping into the 50s at night. The high on Tuesday is expected to be in the low 50s.

As the cold front approaches, a line of showers may accompany damaging wind gusts, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a hazardous weather outlook along with a wind advisory.