Harford County Weather: Winter Weather Advisory Updated

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The National Weather Service has updated its winter weather advisory Saturday for Harford County. The amount of snow expected has increased, while projections for ice have dropped.

The winter weather advisory takes effect at 1 p.m. and continues until midnight on Saturday, Jan. 19.

During that period, up to 2 inches of snow may fall, and a few hundredths of an inch of ice may accumulate in Harford County, according to the advisory. (Previously, 1 inch of snow had been expected, along with 0.1 inch ice.)

Drivers should use extra caution, anticipating slippery roads and limited visibility; a winter weather advisory means that snow, sleet or freezing rain will cause travel difficulties.

Across the region, weather officials issued a hazardous weather outlook for Sunday due to the potential for bitterly cold wind chills through Monday morning. It is expected to feel like it is below-zero Sunday night into Monday in central Maryland.

Wind gusts on Sunday night may reach up to 40 mph, according to the Harford County Department of Emergency Services, which announced a shelter will open for those who need a place to stay warm.

A warming center with shelter will be open from 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20, to noon on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The shelter will be at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company, 2600 Castleton Road, Darlington. The phone number there is 410-638-3760.

Based on the forecast from the National Weather Service, temperatures in Bel Air will be in the single digits on Monday, Jan. 21. It will be 8 degrees at 8 a.m. that day, and it will feel like -11 degrees due to the wind chill, according to the forecast.

There is potential in the second half of the week for flooding due to rain and snow melt, according to weather officials.

Check the forecast for Harford County from the National Weather Service:

Saturday: Slight chance of snow between 1 and 4 p.m., then rain, snow and sleet likely. Cloudy, with a high near 37. East wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain, snow and sleet likely before 7 p.m., then rain and sleet between 7 and 10 p.m., followed by rain after 10 p.m. Temperature rising to around 43 by 4 a.m. East wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of rain before 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 23 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7 degrees, with wind chill values as low as -11. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

MLK Day: Sunny, with a high near 17 degrees. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 6.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 30.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Rain. High near 47. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday Night: Rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

To prepare for power outages and extreme cold, Harford County emergency officials offered these tips:

• Keep flashlights and batteries on hand.
• Charge cell phones and any battery-powered devices.
• Wear multiple layers of loose clothing.
• Keep hands, head and feet covered when outside.
• Prepare dry, draft-free shelter for pets, with access to food and water.

Don't

• Use an oven or an extension cord with a space heater to heat your home.
• Run a generator inside a home or garage.
• Rely on battery-operated medical devices or those requiring electricity; make a backup plan.

File photo by Elizabeth Janney.