Nothing says Christmastime like unusually warm weather followed by sleet and freezing rain.
If you’re in the Baltimore area Friday, expect a wintry mix and colder weather. The temperature is expected to stay steady in the low to mid-30s, a stark shift from Christmas Day, which saw a high of 53 degrees.
The dramatic shift in weather is due to high pressure from Canada that’s making its way southward, said Anna Stuck, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
Precipitation will likely begin just before sunrise Friday in the form of snow and sleet, Stuck said. It is expected to transition to freezing rain in the afternoon as temperatures rise and will possibly linger overnight and into Saturday morning.
The day will bring clouds, in addition to the sleet and freezing rain, so if you’re looking to burn calories on a post-Christmas walk, stick to a treadmill. Sidewalks, Stuck said, could be “super slippery.” if you plan to travel by car, drive cautiously.
“Stay up to date on warnings and advisories,” Stuck said. “Pay attention to road conditions and exercise caution.”
With the sleet comes a chance of snow, but it won’t be enough for sledding this Boxing Day, Stuck noted. Only half an inch of sleet is expected.
The NWS also issued an ice storm warning covering parts of Western Maryland for Friday, forecasting icing from sleet and freezing rain that could lead to power outages, tree damage and conditions that make travel “nearly impossible” in Eastern Garrett County and areas of Western Allegany County.
Comments
Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines.