Freezing Waters Await Saturday's Plungers

Human polar bears taking part in this year's Plungefest could be braving snow showers when they dip into the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday.

The 18th annual Plungefest, hosted by Special Olympics Maryland, will kick off Saturday with hundreds of scantily dressed plungers immersing themselves in freezing waters. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts a high of 34 and a low of 16—the first day since the snow arrived that temperatures will be just above freezing.

There's also a 60 percent chance of snow on Saturday, the NWS reports.

Special Olympics Maryland is hoping to raise up to $2.5 million in this year's event, but with just 1 day left, only $1.2 million has been raised so far. The team with the most donations as of 8 a.m. Friday was the 2014 Super Plunge Team, which has raised just under half of its $500,000 goal.

Other teams have surpassed their goals, including the Anne Arundel County Police plungers, who raised $9,411 of their $5,000 goal and have an army of 50 members ready to take the frigid plunge.

Traditionally, the Friday before the plunge has been reserved for students from across Maryland to take their dip. But due to weather conditions this year and last year, the annual student plunge has been pushed back into February. 

This year's student donations are still being led by South River High, who have raised $5,907 according to the official Cool Schools website.