High Wind WARNING Saturday: Upgraded and Expanded

March 31, 2023

Friday Afternoon Second Update

With the anticipation of strong winds, computer guidance supports a greater likelihood of more areas getting close to 60 mph. That is the threshold for a Warning as tree branches and power lines may come down. It is important to take this seriously as winds will be changing direction and getting stronger in the evening. So what may get weakened in the morning, could succumb later in the day.

I encourage paying close attention to updates and perhaps adjusting any outdoor plans, here is a quick look at how this may play out.

High Wind WARNING and Wind Advisory

Details BELOW the map:

High Wind Warning: Central Maryland west to the Mountains, also along I-81 into Virginia.

When: Saturday Noon to Midnight

Notes:  Winds will be Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph Saturday afternoon, becoming Northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph Saturday evening.

Wind Advisory: Southern Maryland/Lower Eastern Shore and Southeast Virginia.

When: Saturday 8 AM to Midnight

Notes: Wind will be Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 to 45 mph expected. Winds may briefly gust to as high as 50 mph Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening.

Wind Forecast

8 AM to 10 PM

Notice the winds will be from the Southwest in the morning and increase in the afternoon. The wind shift will come with a squall line later in the day and evening from the Northwest.

Squall Line Forecast

Winds (1 minute average)

Wind Gusts (peak 3 to 10 seconds)

Friday Afternoon Set Up

Low Pressure is located in Iowa, with a very strong cold front trailing to Dallas. This will help ignite strong to severe storms this afternoon. A large tornado outbreak is possible from Iowa south to include St. Louis and Memphis.

Locally, a warm front is moving through central Maryland. This will bring our region a warm up today and tonight.

Radar Simulation

2 PM to Midnight

Showers will be scattered through tonight. So you might get rained on, but hit or miss.

Overnight Rain

We may have a better chance of heavier showers after midnight through the morning.

Saturday: Storm Day

• Morning: Showers and Breezy
• Afternoon: A break early… Turning Windy
• Evening: Squall Line may include severe thunderstorms

Radar Simulation

8 AM to 2 PM

High Temperatures

Between the morning rain and evening storm line, the wind will surge in very warm temps for a few hours. This may provide added fuel for the storms.

Radar Simulation

This product can be off by 1 to 2 hours. So consider this to enter central Maryland between 5 PM and 8 PM. The tendency is for storm cells to arrive earlier.

This line may prompt Severe Storm Alerts.

Most likely wind gusts to 60 mph, which may down trees and power lines.

Also possible: Dangerous lightning and large hail.

Radar Simulation

5 PM to 10 PM

Power Outage Tracking Resources

From PowerOutages.us

Click to see the latest numbers for:

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Virginia

West Virginia

Delaware

Temperature Forecast

Saturday Afternoon to Sunday Morning

A dramatic cool down will follow the storm, and set us up for just one cool day.  We will warm back up again next week.

Extended Forecast (from this morning)

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RESTATING MY MESSAGE ABOUT DYSLEXIA

I am aware there are some spelling and grammar typos, and occasional other glitches. I take responsibility for my mistakes, and even the computer glitches I may miss.

I have made a few public statements over the years, but if you are new here you may have missed it:

I have dyslexia, and found out during my second year at Cornell University. It didn’t stop me from getting my meteorology degree, and being first to get the AMS CBM in the Baltimore/Washington region. One of my professors told me that I had made it that far without knowing, and to not let it be a crutch going forward. That was Mark Wysocki and he was absolutely correct!

I do miss my mistakes in my own proofreading. The autocorrect spell check on my computer sometimes does an injustice to make it worse. I also can make mistakes in forecasting. No one is perfect predicting the future.

All of the maps and information are accurate. The ‘wordy’ stuff can get sticky. 

There has been no editor that can check my work when I needed it and have it ready to send out in a newsworthy timeline. Barbara Werner is a member of the web team that helps me maintain this site. She has taken it upon herself to edit typos, when she is able. That could be AFTER you read this.

I accept this and perhaps proves what you read is really from me…

It’s part of my charm.

#FITF