More ice and snow are expected in the Baltimore region tonight
Baltimore residents were expected to wake up this morning to an overnight mix of ice and snow, and more chances for icy precipitation is forecast Monday night into Tuesday.
But the precise timing and amounts of precipitation were difficult to predict, with the Interstate 95 corridor expected to be on the edge of a clash between colder Arctic air to the north and warmer, wetter air pushing up from the south.
“It’s been a very tough forecast to knock down,” said Jeremy Geiger, a meteorologist at the weather service’s Baltimore/ Washington forecast office.
About 1 to 2 inches of snow and up to a 10th of an inch of ice were expected to accumulate through Monday afternoon. As much as 3 inches is possible along the Mason-Dixon Line.
“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the weather service cautioned, particularly during the Monday morning commute.
A lull in precipitation is forecast during the day Monday, but then rain, ice and snow are expected to resume across the region Monday night and into Tuesday.
More precipitation is likely northwest of Interstate 95, especially north of the Interstate 70 corridor. “Significant” ice accumulations are possible at higher elevations across Howard, Carroll, Baltimore and Harford counties, weather service meteorologists said.
To the south, in and immediately surrounding Baltimore, freezing rain and sleet are possible overnight before a changeover to rain Tuesday morning.
Forecasters said it was difficult to say precisely what type of precipitation would fall where, with a narrow and unpredictable divide between areas with temperatures slightly above or below freezing.
“It all depends on what side of that freezing line you’re on,” said Keith Krichinsky, executive director of meteorology company Foot’s Forecast. “One mile either way makes that much of a difference.”
Cold rain is likely across the region by late Tuesday morning, with temperatures forecast to rise above freezing but remain in the 30s. Rain is forecast into Tuesday night.
Then, the weather is expected to moderate by midweek, with mostly sunny skies and a high of 46 degrees forecast for Wednesday.