963
FXUS61 KLWX 060100
AFDLWX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
800 PM EST Thu Mar 5 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The previous forecast remains on track. The threat of severe
thunderstorms has largely diminished, with thunder chances
dwindling after about 11 PM this evening.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) A meandering front will bring highly variable
  temperatures, occasional rain/storm chances, and nighttime fog
  through Saturday.

- 2) Well above normal temperatures are expected through much of
  next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1..A meandering front will bring highly variable
temperatures, occasional rain/storm chances, and nighttime fog
through Saturday.

A shortwave trough aloft and its associated wave of surface low
pressure track from the OH Valley through the northern Mid-
Atlantic this evening/tonight. This brings widespread showers to
the northern half of the area (generally along and north of a
line from Franklin to Warrenton to Annapolis).

Abundant fog and low clouds are likely once again tonight, though
some of this could be counteracted by low-level dry advection behind
the surface low passage. The most likely area for fog looks to be
along/northeast of the stalled boundary - looking at north to
northeast MD. Showers dwindle overnight, though some patchy drizzle
could linger through sunrise.

A backdoor cold front makes its way into the area Friday morning,
reinforcing the CAD wedge across the northeast part of the forecast
area. There is going to be a sharp temp gradient, with temps in the
70s to around 80F to the south/west and in the 40s to low 50s to the
north/east of the boundary. The latest guidance has the edge
somewhere across the DC Metro toward the northern Shenandoah Valley.
This makes the temp forecast very difficult, with a possible range
of upper 40s to upper 60s for the immediate DC area. Scattered
showers and perhaps a thunderstorm may develop Friday afternoon,
especially west of the Blue Ridge, as a subtle shortwave trough
passes overhead during peak heating. Some dense fog could form again
Friday night as higher dew points attempt to start advecting back
northward.

Another low pressure system will be moving through the Great Lakes
early Saturday, tightening the pressure gradient with high pressure
off the southeast coast. The increased southerly flow will have the
best chance of lifting the wedge front northward and bringing 60s
and 70s (to near 80) to much of the area. However, there is still
some guidance that keeps the wedge firmly in place across the
eastern half of the forecast area. So, additional refinements to the
temperature forecast (currently in the 60s to 70s) might be needed.
SPC is highlighting a Marginal/Slight risk for severe storms west
of the Blue Ridge Saturday late afternoon to evening. Building
instability, modest shear, and forcing for ascent ahead of the
approaching cold front will allow for scattered thunderstorms to
develop. The front slows substantially as it crosses the area
Saturday night.


KEY MESSAGE 2...Well above normal temperatures are expected through
much of next week.

A decaying cold front will pass to our south and east during the day
on Sunday. Drier and slightly cooler air of mid-latitude,
continental origin will filter into the area within west to
northwesterly flow behind the front. Temperatures on Sunday are
forecast to be a few degrees cooler than preceding days, but still
well above normal, with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s for
most (50s mountains). Primarily dry conditions and well above normal
temperatures will persist through much of next week as flow turns
zonal aloft. Temperatures are forecast to reach into the upper 70s
to lower 80s across much of the area by Tuesday and Wednesday, with
60s in the mountains.

There are signs that a strong cold front may approach from the
northwest by later Wednesday into Wednesday night, but some guidance
holds the front off to our north and west until Thursday. A chance
for showers and/or thunderstorms may accompany the frontal passage,
with temperatures turning sharply colder behind the front.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Some thunder is possible near MRB/IAD through about 03Z.
Otherwise, IFR to LIFR conditions in low ceilings and/or fog
will spread back across the area tonight. CHO could be near the
southern boundary, with impactful CIGs/fog limited to a few
hours late in the night. These low ceilings will have trouble
lifting northward Friday, with perhaps only minimal diurnal
increases to the cloud base and continued light east to
northeast winds. Some scattered showers are possible Friday
afternoon and evening but with minimal impact compared to the
ceilings. Expect ceilings to lower again Friday night.

Greater chance for improving conditions Saturday but not guaranteed
at BWI/MTN. Showers and thunderstorms will approach from the west
late in the day, with MRB having the greatest chance of a
thunderstorm.

Prevailing VFR conditions are expected on Sunday and Monday. Winds
will generally be out of the west to northwest on Sunday, and
then south to southwest on Monday.

&&

.MARINE...
A quasi-stationary boundary remains across the region, with a
reinforcing backdoor cold front dropping into the area Friday
morning. The boundary lifts back north as warm front on Saturday. A
cold front will try to cross the waters late Saturday into Sunday
before washing out over the region early next week.

Dense fog is likely to be an issue again Friday and Saturday
mornings as well as winds remain light. The northern Chesapeake Bay
may largely keep east to northeast winds through Friday night, while
areas south of Washington DC and the Bay Bridge could flip to
southerly at times. Winds should remain below advisory criteria.

Increasing SSW/SW winds on Saturday could bring conditions to near
SCA levels. However, the colder bay waters with warmer air
temperatures could lead to a stable atmosphere and little mixing of
winds to the surface.

Sub-SCA level northwesterly winds are expected on Sunday. Winds will
turn out of the south on Monday, but remain sub-SCA level in
magnitude.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...None.
VA...None.
WV...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...ADS/DHOF/KJP/KRR
AVIATION...ADS/DHOF/KJP/KRR
MARINE...ADS/DHOF/KJP/KRR

NWS LWX Office Area Forecast Discussion