Posted on 12/10/24
| News Source: Pikesville Patch
Baltimore, MD - Dec. 10, 2024 - The Baltimore region could see its wettest day in months Wednesday as a rapidly strengthening storm is expected to sweep across the eastern United States, according to forecasters.
A developing bomb cyclone fed by an atmospheric river — a narrow plume of deep moisture originating from the tropics — is predicted to unleash torrential rain and powerful winds from the Appalachians to the Atlantic, snarling travel and triggering possible flooding and power outages, Accuweather meteorologists warned.
As downpours and thunderstorms soak the Southeast into Tuesday night, rains will move northward into the central Appalachians, mid-Atlantic and southern New England regions, according to Accuweather.
"The storm will quickly reorganize along the upper mid-Atlantic coast Wednesday," Accuweather said Tuesday. "This new storm center will become the bomb cyclone, amplifying the rain from the Appalachians to the Atlantic beaches and the wind along the Atlantic coast as it moves northward through Wednesday night."
According to the National Weather Service, the Baltimore area could see excessive rainfall totaling more than 2.5 inches starting Tuesday night and continuing into Wednesday.
Maryland could use a soaking rain. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of Dec. 5 the entire state is in moderate to severe drought conditions.
"Locally severe" thunderstorms are also possible Wednesday, with the chance of a few tornadoes in part of the mid-Atlantic, AccuWeather said.
In its Tuesday forecast, the Capital Weather Gang said the predicted rainfall could help ease drought conditions across the region.
"At least 1 to 2 inches of rain should fall — the most from any storm in more than two months," the Capital Weather Gang said.
The cold front fueling the precipitation could also bring gusty winds topping 30 mph as downpours move through the state.
"Once the front passes, sharply colder air will spill into the region Wednesday night into Thursday," the Capital Weather Gang said. "Snow is not expected from this storm in the D.C. area, but some will occur in the mountains to the west."
Here's the latest Baltimore forecast through Friday, according to the National Weather Service:
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers before 7pm, then rain, mainly after 10pm. Areas of fog between 3am and 5am. Temperature rising to around 60 by 2am. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Rain. Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Temperature rising to near 63 by 10am, then falling to around 52 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Wednesday Night: A chance of rain before 10pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 19 to 24 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.