Maryland weather: Heavy rain Tuesday might cause flooding; some area school systems closing early

Jan. 8—By Dan Belson — dbelson@baltsun.com, Tony Roberts — troberts@baltsun.com and Christine Condon — chcondon@baltsun.com

PUBLISHED:January 8, 2024 at 8:42 a.m.| UPDATED:January 9, 2024 at 11:14 a.m.

Tuesday morning's rain in the Baltimore area is expected persist into the night, with heavy precipitation forecast to be met with gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service.

The projected rainfall, accompanied by warnings for flooding and heavy winds, has already prompted area schools to cancel activities or dismiss students early. Over 1 1/2 inches of rain is forecast to fall in downtown Baltimore.

A coastal flood warning is in effect for parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County, as high tides expected from the heavy Tuesday rain could bring water onto streets in downtown Baltimore and flood waterfront areas in Bowleys Quarters and Annapolis.

The flood warning runs from 3 p.m. Tuesday to 1 a.m. Wednesday, when tides could rise as high as 5 feet above normal. The heavy rains could also cause flooding of inland rivers and streams, according to the Weather Service.

A high wind warning will be in effect during that same time span . Southeast winds are expected to reach speeds of 25 to 35 mph , with gusts up to 60 mph. These winds have the potential to cause unsecured objects to become airborne and could result in tree limbs falling, leading to power outages.

Tuesday, Howard, Harford and Baltimore counties will dismiss students three hours early. Carroll and Anne Arundel schools will dismiss two hours early. Baltimore City schools opted to simply cancel after-school activities.

Cecil County Public Schools will close at noon for secondary and 1 p.m. for elementary students. Preschool is canceled.

A high impact system is set to impact the area today into Wed. Flooding rains, coastal flooding, strong winds, and mountain wintry precipitation are all expected. Conditions deteriorate after dark as a brunt of the storm tracks from I-95 toward the Bay. #MDwx #VAwx #DCwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/WsotAZgmXC

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 9, 2024

Baltimore City will be providing sandbags for residents and business owners on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the following locations:

— Fells Point — Intersection of Thames and Broadway

— Frederick Avenue — Stillmeadow Church located at 5110 Frederick Ave.

Those picking up sandbags must show proof of residence or business ownership in Baltimore, such as a driver's license, utility bill or business license. Users must fill and transport their sandbags.

Residents will also be able to park in city-owned garages in Fells Point, Harbor East and Little Italy. Parking is free at the Fleet & Eden Garage starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday and at Little Italy and Caroline Street garages starting at 4 p.m., but proof of residency is required.

Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, and vehicles parked in these garages must move from Baltimore-owned garages after the storm and no later than 8 a.m. Wednesday for the Little Italy and Caroline Street garages and noon for the Fleet and Eden Garage.

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The time frame could be extended depending on the conditions.

The city's winter shelters are activated from Tuesday at 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. Friday, meaning that they will provide extended shelter to people experiencing homelessness. Those in need are advised to call the shelter hotline at 443-984-9540 prior to 9 p.m. or 410-305-7132 between 9 p.m. and midnight.

The rain is expected to slow around 6 a.m. Wednesday, with conditions clearing up in the afternoon to a partly sunny day with winds of up to 22 mph and gusts as high as 40 mph. Thursday is forecast to be sunny, with a high close to 50 degrees.

Rain will likely return Friday mostly after 1 p.m. with temperatures reaching a high of around 55 degrees.

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