14 MD Counties Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Weather Forecast

MARYLAND — As colder temperatures and strong winds whip across Maryland Sunday, with gusts topping 50 miles per hour, strong storms are also possible, said the National Weather Service. The agency has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region.

The watch is in effect until 9 p.m. for the city of Baltimore, plus Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties.

"A strong cold front will pass through the area late this afternoon and early this evening. Severe thunderstorms are possible ahead of the cold front," the weather service said. "High pressure will return Monday before moving offshore Tuesday. Low pressure and its associated cold front will likely impact the area Wednesday before surface high and an upper-level trough build overhead for late in the week."

After Saturday's taste of early-summer warmth, by Thursday daytime high temperatures will sit in the mid-40s and the overnight low will drop into the 20s.

The weather service said the storms also carry the risk of an isolated tornado.

The hazardous weather outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

A gale warning is in effect for the waters Sunday and into the night.

The wind advisory is in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Monday with west to northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.

The advisory covers the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas, as well as north-central and northeastern Maryland and northern Virginia.

Communities in the wind advisory include: Carroll, Baltimore, Cecil, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard, and Harford counties, along with Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Elkton, Baltimore, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Camp Springs, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate, Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, Germantown, Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Lisbon, Columbia, Ellicott City, Jarrettsville, and Aberdeen.

Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result from the high winds, the NWS warned. Drivers should use extra caution, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle.

Cooler and breezy conditions are expected Monday under building high pressure, the National Weather Service said. Cold at night under clear skies and very dry air mass. Next system will
bring showers to the area late Tuesday night through the day Wednesday.

Here are the forecast details for Maryland:

Sunday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. High near 73. South wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm. Low around 41. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday night: Clear, with a low around 41. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Light south wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday: Showers. High near 66. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.