WEATHER BLOG: Storms Ahead?

The front stalled just south of the state is responsible for another round of showers and thunderstorms in southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore. In this unsettled weather pattern, a waterspout formed and possibly moved onshore Tuesday evening around Hallowing Point in Calvert County. Some thunderstorms and showers will continue Tuesday night across southern Maryland before thunderstorms chances increase again throughout the state later this week.

A new front is moving our way from the west. It will draw moisture from the stalled southern storm Wednesday to produce some thunderstorms across the state. That front is a strong one and will come marching through the state Thursday into Friday. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms Thursday from Baltimore west, then a slight risk Friday from Carroll/Frederick County east. It is rare that we see them highlight severe risk areas so many days out in this part of the country. Make sure you have access to weather information if you are going to be outside, particularly Friday.

Some rain and thunderstorms could linger into Saturday before the front moves off to the northeast. Drier air will try to follow for the second half of the weekend. However, we may still have clouds lingering and a pop up shower or thunderstorm on Sunday. Highs will run close to 90 degrees Wednesday and Thursday, before getting knocked back to the mid 80s over the weekend.

In the tropics...
Ernesto officially became a hurricane Tuesday afternoon. Winds are estimated at 80 mph as it moves off to the west-northwest toward the northern Belize/southern Mexican Yucatan Peninsula coast. Ernesto will weaken slightly at landfall before possibly gaining more strength when it makes contact with the water again - and then makes another landfall on the Mexico mainland. Flooding rains are a major threat for the mountainous regions it will pass over.