Baltimore Set for Season’s Coldest Air as Gusty Winds and Possible Snow Loom

Baltimore is bracing for its sharpest taste of winter yet, with a surge of Arctic air poised to send temperatures plunging and winds howling by early next week. According to the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC, a secondary cold front is expected to lift northward as a warm front today before a stronger system sweeps through Sunday night—ushering in the season’s coldest spell so far.

Today will start on a mild note, with temperatures reaching the upper 60s to low 70s under a westerly breeze. Cloud cover will increase later in the day as the approaching front inches closer. Overnight lows will dip into the 40s, with some urban and coastal areas near the Chesapeake Bay staying in the 50s.

Sunday’s forecast calls for a mix of sun and clouds with scattered afternoon showers and a few possible thunderstorms. While severe weather is more likely to develop further south, Baltimore will still feel the impact, with highs in the mid-60s to low 70s before the strong cold front arrives late in the day. Once it passes, conditions will deteriorate rapidly, bringing gusts between 25 and 35 mph and a potential rain-to-snow transition in the higher elevations west of the city.

By Monday, temperatures will tumble, with highs struggling to escape the 40s and wind chills making it feel much colder. Tuesday could mark the season’s coldest day yet, with highs possibly stuck in the 30s and wind chills below freezing throughout the day. The National Weather Service warns that wind chills could dip into the teens and even single digits in mountainous areas as the coldest air mass of the season settles over the Mid-Atlantic.

Mariners and aviators are advised to prepare for challenging conditions, including possible gale warnings and aviation restrictions. Meanwhile, the region’s brief relief from fire weather risks may end as cold, dry air returns next week. Coastal areas will also need to watch for elevated water levels due to persistent southerly winds, though widespread flooding is not expected at this time.

As temperatures tumble and winter’s grip tightens, Baltimore residents are reminded that the season’s first true chill is here—and it’s arriving with force.