Maryland's Weather Rollercoaster: Rain and Wind Ahead

Maryland is in for a weather rollercoaster this week. After a chilly Monday, things are about to get interesting. The first half of the week will be dry and cool. But by Wednesday, rain and wind will make their grand entrance. Monday starts off crisp with a bit of frost in the morning. But don't worry, it won't be as cold as Sunday night. By lunchtime, temperatures will climb to the mid-50s. The afternoon will be even warmer, hitting around 60 degrees. Winds will be light, coming from the east-northeast at about 10 mph. Tuesday brings more clouds but still dry weather for most of the day. Expect highs in the upper 50s. A northeast wind will blow at 10 to 20 mph, making it feel cooler. Late Tuesday or Tuesday night, a few light showers might pop up, especially south of Baltimore. The real action starts on Wednesday. Two storm systems are on their way. The first will pass south of central Maryland late Tuesday. Clouds will thicken, and light rain is possible near the Potomac River and the bay. But for Baltimore and points north, rain is unlikely. The second storm system arrives Wednesday evening. Temperatures will stay in the 50s with overcast skies. Rain will move in from the south by early evening, making the evening commute wet. The rain will get heavier Wednesday night and stick around until Thursday morning. While widespread flooding isn't expected, some urban and small stream flooding could happen during the heaviest downpours. By Thursday afternoon, Maryland could see 1 to 2 inches of rain. This is good news for the ongoing drought. But the stormy weather might cause problems for the Thursday morning commute. By Friday, the storm system will move away. Halloween looks like it will be cool and windy but dry. A few showers are possible in western Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. The forecast for the first weekend of November is dry and cool.