A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for parts of Maryland until 8 p.m., with storms expected to intensify late this afternoon into the evening. The forecast also calls for a hot afternoon ahead of a cold front, followed by a cooler, rainy Memorial Day wee
Wednesday morning in Maryland is already carrying the feeling of a coming change—hot air holding on while a cold front waits just offstage. The next weather-maker is expected to bring showers and storms later today. and the timing is the part that’s most likely to tangle with plans: storms are set to fire up late this afternoon into the evening. with possible impacts to the evening commute.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Maryland until 8 p.m. Showers are expected to last through the night, keeping the tension of an active forecast going well past sunset.
Ahead of the front, it will be another very hot day. Highs are forecast to be in the mid 90s, nearly 20 degrees above average. Then the weather flips after the front moves in: temperatures drop sharply behind it, with highs in the low 60s.
The concern inside the watch is not just rain. Some of the storms could be strong or severe, bringing gusty winds and small hail—hazards that can turn a commute into a scramble.
The weekend picture looks different, and for many people it’s a trade: cooler and wet. The cool and rainy trend is expected to last over Memorial Day weekend, with highs in the 60s on Friday and Saturday, and in the 70s on Sunday and Memorial Day. Rain is possible each day.
For parts of Maryland, though, the rain isn’t just welcome—it’s urgent. Over 95% of Maryland is in a severe drought, so precipitation is badly needed. The comparison is stark: compared to the average rainfall from January 1 through now, BWI is in a 6.36-inch deficit. The rain expected over the coming days will help minimize that shortfall.
The picture coming into the Memorial Day stretch is clear even before the first storm bursts: a very hot afternoon, a late-day storm window that can hit evening traffic, then a cooler, rainy weekend—along with the kind of water that drought-struck ground has been waiting for.
Maryland weather alert severe thunderstorm watch cold front thunderstorms hail gusty winds evening commute Memorial Day weekend rain severe drought BWI rainfall deficit