December 21 Winter Solstice Today Brings Wind Then Light Mix To Rain Before Mild Christmas

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Today marks the start of astronomical winter. The Winter Solstice at 10:03 AM is when the North Pole is pointing the farthest away from the sun. It’s our lowest sun angle AND shortest daylight of the year. So winter is truly just getting started, even if it may feel mild for a week.

More fun facts below.

There is a building heat wave of sorts for the middle of the US. We will be on the edge, catching some active weather in the transition zone before Christmas and perhaps after. We never get into the full warmth, but it will be mild for a while.

The curious parts will be an attempt for a wintry mix in the region on Tuesday that will bring snow to our north. Then another push of rain and colder air is expected over next weekend.

So while the holiday will be quiet and mild, the winter pattern is nearby and will try to fight back.

Let’s take a look.

HEADLINES

• Winter Solstice at 10:03 AM: Shortest Day of the Year
• Astronomical Winter Begins Today
• Mild Week Ahead, But Winter Pattern Nearby
• Tuesday: Wintry Mix Possible; Snow to Our North
• Christmas Looks Quiet and Mild
• Next Weekend: Rain and Colder Air Return

Winter Solstice Fun Facts

Morning Surface Weather

High Pressure will track off the coast, shifting our light wind from the south, allowing a push of mild air to return.

There is one more push of cold air that will reach us on Monday.

Stormy Quick View:

Morning Temperatures

Wind Forecast 7 AM Fri to 7 AM Sat

Look closely, and you might see the High Pressure pass across Southern Maryland and shift the winds this afternoon and evening.

Afternoon Winds

Afternoon Temperatures

MOUNTAIN CAM:

WESTERN MARYLAND SNOW

Wind is still in full force in this region. A fresh coasting to few inches of snow has blanketed the region.

This webcam is positioned at The Greene Turtle Deep Creek Lake and shows Wisp Resort, including a zoomed-in view of Squirrel Cage, The Face, the terrain park, Boulder, the mountain coaster, the tubing park and a shot of McHenry Cove at Deep Creek Lake!

CLIMATE DATA: Baltimore

Yesterday: Low 23°F; High 44°F

Precipitation: 0.00″

Season Snow Total: 2.0″

Snow Depth: 0″

Top Wind Gust: 22 mph

TODAY December 21

Sunrise at 7:23 AM

Sunset at 4:47 PM

Normal Low in Baltimore: 29ºF

Record Low: 5ºF in 1942

Normal High in Baltimore: 46ºF

Record High: 71ºF in 2013

Rainfall Deficit at BWI

• Ending 2024 = -8.00″
• Since Jan 1 = -7.83″
• We are STILL DOWN -15.83″ INCLUDING LAST YEAR

FAITH IN THE FLAKES STORE

NOW OPEN FOR THE SEASON

click here

MONDAY

Morning Temperatures

Afternoon Temperatures

Christmas Holiday Weather

Monday Night to Tuesday Night: The boundary or transition between the chilly Northeast and warm Midwest will be a band of overrunning precipitation. The GFS Model (not my favorite) has been persistently pushing light snow to reach Central Maryland Tuesday morning, then turning to rain. While a moderate impact snow will fall across parts of Pennsylvania, New York, and New England.

The ECMWF Model has this develop slower and moves the impact farther north and east.

I am showing the comparison because there has been a trend farther south… and may bring ambient morning flakes to parts of metro Baltimore. Also, there will be an impact for travelers heading north on Tuesday.

GFS Model Monday Night to Tuesday Night

ECMWF Model: Monday Night to Tuesday Night

Tuesday Morning: Model Comparison

Looking Ahead: Jet Stream US View

Christmas Eve Morning

OMEGA BLOCK: Christmas Eve may turn out to bring record heat to the Southern Plains of the US. The coasts will be unsettled.

This is called an Omega Block because it looks like the Greek Letter Omega.

Here in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US, the edge of the cool influence is from a trough. This is why we may see some wintry mix in the region and a sharp boundary from the warmth to the chill.

Jet Stream Christmas Eve To Dec 29

Watching how the blocking on the North Atlantic will attempt to build WEST into New England and just barely get into the Mid-Atlantic.

IF this happens, then the very warm air in the middle of the nation will also get pushed back to the West.

Next Monday, Dec 29

This all depends on a blocking pattern in the North Atlantic. If it does develop, then a push of colder air will arrive from New England as the Ridge with Warm air in the middle of the US gets pushed West.

7 Day Forecast

• Sunday: Windy Afternoon
• Monday: Remaining Cool As Clouds Return
• Tuesday Morning Mix, especially North and snow farther north. Afternoon Light Rain
• Christmas Eve: Getting into the mild air
• Christmas Day looks mild with a small chance of rain showers
• Friday and Saturday: Rain possible in the battle zone between the Big Ridge and Returning Colder Air From New England

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Snow Report December 14  and Grade My Forecast

In case you missed it, click this image for brief summary of the final snow totals from the last event.

Snow Report December 5 to 6 and Grade My Forecast

In case you missed it, click this image for brief summary of the final snow totals from the last event.

My Winter Outlook For Above-Average Snow

Click here for the full report

La Niña Advisory

This was issued October 9, as expected: A weak and short-lived event to start winter may play a different role this winter.

In Case You Missed It

Woolly Bear Caterpillar Winter Folklore

These are NOT all the same caterpillar!

Winter Outlook From 2 Farmers’ Almanacs

STEM Assemblies/In School Fields Trips Are Back

Click to see more and ‘Book’ a visit to your school

THANK YOU:

Baltimore Sun Magazine Readers’ Choice Best Of Baltimore

Maryland Trek 12 Day 7 Completed Sat August 9

UPDATED: We raised OVER $170,000 for Just In Power Kids – AND Still Collecting More

The annual event: Hiking and biking 329 miles in 7 days between The Summit of Wisp to Ocean City.

Each day, we honor a kid and their family’s cancer journey.

Fundraising is for Just In Power Kids: Funding Free Holistic Programs. I never have and never will take a penny. It is all for our nonprofit to operate.

Click here or the image to donate:

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 the 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 can also make mistakes in forecasting. No one is perfect at predicting the future. All of the maps and information are accurate. The ‘wordy’ stuff can get sticky.  There has been no editor who can check my work while writing and to 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 available. 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

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