BLOG: Flood Watch Is In Effect
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Good Morning, a flood watch is in effect for the entire viewing area from late Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night. Wind advisories are in also in effect from noon through midnight.
High pressure will finally lose its hold on the region and a return to wet weather will be had by late morning. An advancing warm front will bring the first round of moisture to the area Saturday afternoon with a second, more significant surge of moisture set for this evening ahead of a cold front, currently in the Ohio Valley. Copious amounts of rain are expected with this system thanks to a strong flow out of the Gulf and off of the Atlantic as well as a strong upper-level trough to facilitate lift and precipitation generation. By the time the rain winds down late Saturday night most locations should see between an inch and two inches of liquid in the rain gauge.
Additionally, coastal flooding and beach erosion will be a concern (coastal flood warnings now in effect from 6 p.m. through midnight) with the strong easterly fetch over the next 18 hours or so with winds shifting to the southeast this evening. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph at times this evening as the cold front approaches and moves through the region. Gale warnings and small craft advisories are in effect for the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic for winds to 45 knots and seas of 5 feet or more on Bay waters with seas of 10 feet or greater possible over the ocean.
The weekend will end on a decent note, however, as winds turn westerly and we begin to dry out with some sunshine by late morning. It's not going to be clear blue skies, but at least it should be dry with breaks in the clouds. The work week will begin with at least some sunshine on Monday as warm front develops nearby. Chances for rainfall in our area are still fairly limited, but a brief afternoon shower cannot be ruled out. Rain is possible overnight and by Tuesday the front will lift through the region with rain possible for our far northern counties... in any event overcast skies would be expected. We should end up in the warm-sector on Wednesday (and thus very warm) as a low-pressure system makes its' way into southern Ontario and a cold front approaches. Cooler for Thursday.
Have a great day!
