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The calm before the storm was happening Friday for Marylanders: A powerful storm system is expected pass through the area and shake up the serenity.
As a response, The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning to be in effect from Saturday, Mar. 12 at 1 a.m. through Sunday, Mar. 13 at 1 a.m.
The storm has the potential to become a bomb cyclone along the East Coast, AccuWeather says. These “bombs” are among the most volatile winter systems.
“This is because the rapidly ascending air near the center of the storm must be replaced by air surrounding the storm,” AccuWeather says. “As these winds move toward the center of the storm at high speed, property damage can occur, trees may fall and the power may go out.”
Rain will switch over to snow between 1 and 3 a.m. Saturday morning for most of the state. Snow could taper off around the middle of the day, but more is expected to be heavier Saturday afternoon and night.
Total snowfall could be between four and eight inches with wind gusts around 45 to 55 miles per hour. The NWS also warns wind chills could dip as low as 15 below zero Saturday night.
In response, the City of Baltimore has issued a Code Blue Extreme Cold alert starting beginning Saturday evening through Sunday morning. A hypothermia alert has also been issued for Montgomery County as a result.
The combination of strong winds and snow could create blizzard-like conditions, reducing visibility to below half a mile at a time. People should take precautions when traveling as a result.
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