Maryland Weather: Thanksgiving rain & wind, cold blast follows

BALTIMORE -- Expect dry travel today with thickening clouds. Rain develops tonight and continues into Thanksgiving Day morning.

Holiday travelers tonight should encounter no major weather-related issues, as dry conditions and favorable driving weather are expected.

Wednesday: Quiet through this Evening with Rain Tonight

Today will be excellent for travel. Whether you're traveling by road, by rail, or by plane, the weather should cooperate. We will start the day with sunshine, but clouds will quickly thicken and obscure the sun by afternoon. That being said, the winds today are gentle and we remain dry, so overall travel conditions should be excellent. Highs will top out in the middle 50s. 

Cloudy and cool weather continues this evening with rain beginning to overspread the area from the best. The best chance for any light rain would be after 10 PM. Rain overnight will be light to steady in nature with lows in the middle 40s. 

Thanksgiving Day: Morning rain gives way to afternoon gusty winds

The WJZ First Alert Weather Team has issued a WJZ First Alert Weather Day for Thanksgiving Day for the combination of rain and wind producing potential travel delays and disruptions. While we're only expecting less than 0.75" of rain, this will be enough to cause messy and wet roads. The steady rain should end by early afternoon, but gusty and chilly winds howl during the afternoon drying us out. Highs will top out in the lower 50s. 

Friday: Colder Air Arrives

Friday will be noticeably cooler with a gusty and chilly breeze out of the northwest. While the day starts with sunshine, instability clouds will quickly form. This will cause the sky to turn mostly cloudy. There could even be a brief passing sprinkle or shower in a few neighborhoods, but they would be isolated and would not last long.  

Weekend: First Arctic Blast of the Season

The weekend will bring the coldest air of the season so far. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will reach only the mid-to-upper 30s, while nighttime lows will dip into the lower to middle the 20s. Gusty northwest winds will create a wind chill, with "feels like" temperatures in the teens , particularly during the mornings. By Sunday night, wind chills could drop even further. 

For Ravens fans,, dress warmly and in several layers for the 4:25 PM home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Wind-chills will be in the lower to middle 20s the entire game. You'll want a winter hat, gloves, handwarmers, a heavier winter coat, and lip balm. Kickoff temperature at 4:25 PM ET should be in the upper 30s with a gusty cold breeze. 

Next Week: Arctic Chill Lingers

The Arctic air will remain in place early next week. Highs on Monday and Tuesday will top out around 40 degrees, with lows in the low-to-mid 20s. Most of the week will feature highs in the 40s as this slow-moving weather pattern persists. The region will likely remain dry through the first part of next week.

Winter Travelers: Pack Accordingly

If you're traveling somewhere warm for the holiday, be sure to bring winter clothing for your return trip. The sharp contrast in temperatures will be noticeable when you get back this weekend or early next week.