A “major” winter storm is expected to pass through the mid-Atlantic states on Monday and Tuesday before heading into New England, although snow is expected to be limited in the Baltimore area.
The powerful storm, known as a nor'easter, is mostly expected to bring rain to Baltimore, possibly starting Monday afternoon and continuing through Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain is expected in the Baltimore area Monday night into early Tuesday morning, with wintry rain possible Tuesday morning in some areas.
Despite the winter storm system, temperatures are expected to remain above average across much of the region, with a high of 55 degrees expected on Sunday in Baltimore, along with a 20% chance of rain. Scattered showers will move through the Baltimore area Monday afternoon with a high as high as 51 before a rain chance reaches 100% Monday night, with wind gusts up to 22 mph and a low of 39 degrees.
Also Tuesday morning there is a 100% chance of rain with a high temperature of 46 degrees and wind gusts up to 30 mph. The rain is expected to stop by Tuesday night, when temperatures may drop below freezing with a low of 31 degrees.
Heavy snow is likely to hit northern Pennsylvania and southern New York before traveling to New England, where a half-foot to a foot of snow is expected, according to the NWS.
Near Baltimore, areas of heavy rain can be forecast due to the lack of cold air moving south from Canada – although the storm's path remains unclear. Areas farther from the Chesapeake Bay are currently expected to get some snow, with precipitation expected to change to a mix of rain Tuesday morning in Hunt Valley and Westminster, and a slight chance of rain changing to snow near BWI Marshall Airport.
The remainder of the week after Tuesday is expected to be dry through Saturday, when the weather service forecasts a chance of snow showers in Baltimore, with a 30% chance of rain.
