Where is Winter? Did we just skip ahead to Spring? These are all questions you may be asking yourself this morning and even over this past weekend when temperatures climbed close to 70 degrees. The above average warmth looks to continue today as temperatures surge into the low to mid 60s which is nearly 20-25 degrees above the average of where we should be this time of year.
Our forecast high today is 64 degrees which is actually 4 degrees away from the record of 68 degrees set back in 1990. Dense fog though along with the slow movement of our frontal boundary to the north will put a cap on how high our temperatures will likely climb as the day progresses on.
On top of this we are on the look out for a few gusty showers and rumbles of thunder heading into the lunchtime period Monday. A healthy low level jet in the upper levels with winds of 50-80 mph and a front coming in from the west provide the perfect ingredients for a quick bout of late season severe weather.
Not everyone will see this threat as most of the energy sits just east of the area. Those who live along the US-301 and US-50 corridors across the Eastern Shore have the best bet at some isolated wind gusts above 40 mph before 2pm.
Precipitation shuts down as we get after about 2-3pm Monday with skies slow to clear. Temperatures will also start to cool as the winds come in out of the west giving us overnight lows back around 40 degrees.
Patchy fog will once again be an issue as any wind from the early afternoon will dissipate and any excess moisture in the air will be leftover with warm air aloft over the cool surface below. Fog should burn off quickly Tuesday morning with sunshine returning in the skies above. Snow flurries though will possible with a west to northwest flow developing off Lake Erie and Ontario to our north.
With moisture available some snow showers are likely over the mountains with one or two passing through Baltimore in form of flurries on New Year's Eve. High temps will be around 50 with overnight lows falling into the 30s so have a parka ready to go. No major weather impacts are likely to interrupt festivities this year in Baltimore.
New Year's Day will feature highs in the low to mid 40s with overnight lows in the 20s as high pressure takes the wheel. The high slides east Thursday allowing temperatures to rebound to 50 degrees before even warmer air and wetter conditions roll in late week.
High temperatures by Friday and Saturday will be back in the mid to upper 50s with rain predominantly on Friday compared to Saturday. Showers end Saturday morning with cooler and drier weather Sunday.
Even colder weather arrives next week as the weather pattern looks to shift once again. This is when Winter could finally rear it's ugly head. Stay tuned!!
