Baltimore County On Alert For Christmas Eve Flooding, Wind Damage

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Strong winds and rain have put Baltimore County on alert as a wet cold front moves through the region from Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.

The National Weather Service has placed the county under a flash flood watch and wind advisory.

A wind advisory is in effect for Baltimore County from noon Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday. During the advisory period, winds may gust up to 50 mph, with sustained winds from about 15 to 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Tree limbs may blow down, and power outages are possible. Residents should tie down any loose objects.

The wind advisory applies to northern Baltimore and northwest Harford counties, with areas such as Reisterstown, Cockeysville and Jarrettsville potentially impacted, the weather service advised.

Flash Flood Watch In Effect

A flash flood watch is also in effect from 1 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday for Baltimore County and several other jurisdictions in the region.

About 1 to 3 inches of rain may fall Thursday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service, which reports small streams, creeks and urban areas may flood.

Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties are under the flash flood watch. So are the cities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Temperatures are likely to plummet as Christmas Eve transitions into Christmas Day, according to the forecast.

"A powerful cold front will bring a variety of impacts to the region today and tonight," the National Weather Service advised the Baltimore-Washington region Thursday.

"Periods of rain will continue through the afternoon hours," weather officials said. "Some of the rain will be heavy at times which could lead to flooding of rivers, streams, and low-lying areas. Later this evening, a line of showers and thunderstorms capable of strong winds will move across the region."

A flash freeze is possible on wet surfaces overnight as cold air moves in, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a hazardous weather outlook for the Baltimore-Washington region.

Here is the forecast for Baltimore County from the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 59. Breezy, with a south wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Overnight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 35. South wind 14 to 18 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday: Rain showers likely before 8am, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 8am and 3pm, then a slight chance of snow showers after 3pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 32 by 5pm. West wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. West wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32 and a low of 21. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41 and low around 31.