Maryland weather: Snow forecast downgraded, ‘minimal’ snow likely in Baltimore
The snow forecast has been downgraded, and the Baltimore area is likely to receive less than an inch of snow Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
In Baltimore City and further south, snow accumulations are likely to be “minimal,” the weather service said, because temperatures stuck above freezing.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 11 a.m. in northern Baltimore County, northwest Harford County and Cecil County. Southeast Harford County’s advisory lasts until 1 p.m. Those areas could see a coating of snow, mainly on grassy surfaces.
“Temperatures behind the cold front didn’t rush in as quickly, so it’s not matching up with the rain perfectly,” said Jeremy Geiger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “It might only be an hour or two period where you get the perfect conditions, and it’s not as heavy with the precipitation.”
In a tweet Thursday morning, the State Highway Administration urged Marylanders to remain cautious while driving, especially because plummeting temperatures could cause water on roadways to freeze.
“Thankfully the weather appears to be lighter than it could have been. That’s great - however, everything is still cold & wet. Low temps tonight could cause refreeze around the region. You should still take it slow & be vigilant if you’re out today & this evening,” the tweet read.
A number of public schools across the region opted to close Thursday, revising earlier decisions to open two hours late. The full list of closings and delays is available here.
At least one coronavirus testing site closed Thursday as well — Regency Stadium in Waldorf. Baltimore’s State Center testing site will be operating on its normal schedule, and all other state-run testing sites will be opening at noon, according to a tweet from the Maryland Department of Health.
Because of the cold front, Thursday will get steadily colder as the day goes on due to the cold front, dropping below freezing by 5 p.m. There could also be gusty winds up to 20 mph.
Overnight Thursday into Friday, the temperature will drop as low as 15 degrees, with wind chills in some areas in the single digits, according to the National Weather Service. Friday, the temperature won’t rise above 25 degrees.
Parts of southern Maryland, including along the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay, could receive light snow accumulations Friday evening into Friday night — up to an inch, according to the weather service.
Temperatures in the Baltimore area may not rise above freezing again until Sunday, forecasters said.
So far this year, about 3 inches have fallen at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, right around the normal tally for January — 3.1 inches, according to National Weather Service data.
