Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued Ahead Of Cold Front In Maryland

MARYLAND — A cold front will arrive in central Maryland Wednesday, along with wet and windy weather, according to the forecast.

Showers, thunderstorms and a tornado are possible, according to the National Weather Service.

The cold front is expected to move into central Maryland late Wednesday.

Potentially severe weather is expected to arrive from 9 to 11 p.m. for the D.C. metro and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday for the Baltimore metro area.

"A few damaging wind gusts are possible, and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out," the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather outlook for central Maryland.

"Be weather aware, especially if you are headed out," the National Weather Service advised.

These areas are included in the hazardous weather outlook:

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

D.C., eastern West Virginia and northern and central Virginia are also included in the hazardous weather outlook.

Northeastern Maryland is under a separate hazardous weather outlook that calls for wind gusts up to 45 mph Thursday. Due to heavy fog, Cecil County Public Schools delayed opening by two hours Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in western Maryland, Garrett County is under a winter weather advisory for 2 to 6 inches of snow and wind gusts from 45 to 50 mph between 7 p.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday. Roads may be snow-covered and slippery, while wind could bring down tree branches, according to the advisory.

Marine warnings may be issued Wednesday evening, weather officials said. A gale warning has been issued for the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac Thursday.

Here is the latest forecast for the Baltimore area from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday: High near 52 degrees and low around 36 degrees. Areas of fog before noon then scattered showers, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with an east wind 3 to 6 mph. Fog before 10 p.m. East wind 9 to 16 mph becoming west after midnight, gusting as high as 23 mph. Chance of daytime precipitation is 40 percent, increasing to 90 percent at night. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Sunny with a high near 43 degrees and low around 27 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms possible until 4 a.m. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph during the day and up to 25 mph at night.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44 and low around 26 degrees. West wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39 and low around 24 degrees.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44 and a low around 27.

Monday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47 and low of 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. High near 56. Mostly cloudy, with a 40 percent chance of precipitation.