Baltimore rainfall deficit strinking.... active weekend.....

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good Saturday. Finally a break in the rain here in Baltimore. BWI has received about 2 inches of rain over the past few days. Right now BWI is up to 8.35 inches for the year 2004 so far with a deficit of 2.30 inches. Before this storm occurred, the deficit at BWI was over 4 inches. The upper low, which was cut off from the main jet stream flow over the past few days is finally getting kicked offshore by a strong cold front with it's associated cold surge. Along with that cold surge will come precipitation in the form of rain and snow showers on opening day in Baltimore.

The strong cold front will move through Baltimore and Washington DC by early Sunday morning. High temps will likely occur Sunday morning with falling temperatures throughout the day on Sunday. West northwest winds of 20-35 mph with gusts of 40-45 mph are expected during the day on Sunday. In addition rain and snow showers are likely to occur both along the cold front and also behind the front with the afternoon instability. Given the level of instability, thunderstorms are possible under this next vigorous disturbance across northern Maryland up through east central PA and New Jersey Sunday afternoon. Wind gusts of 50 mph are possible with these showers and storms.

Folks living in the Mid Atlantic region on Sunday should secure loose objects such as trash cans. In addition, boaters and or fishermen are not expecting a good day on Sunday as strong northwest winds and choppy waters will hit the marine areas. That combined with lower than normal tides will make boating conditions hazardous through the day on Sunday.

For opening day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, temps at the start of the game after 8 pm will be in the upper 30s to near 40 with rain and snow showers possible as the red sox come to Baltimore. This game will be broadcasted on ESPN by the way. By the end of the game, temps will drop to around freezing. But with wind gusts of 30-40 mph, wind chills will be below freezing throughout the game Sunday evening at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Jim