Friday, September 25, 2026

Good morning. A strengthening Nor’easter is churning off the Carolina/Virginia coast this morning, and while today itself stays mostly dry and just breezy across most of Maryland, that storm is the whole story for your weekend. NWS Baltimore/Washington (4:09 AM update), NWS Mount Holly (5:43 AM), and NWS Wakefield (3:25 AM) all agree: below-normal temperatures, gusty north winds, and increasing rain chances build in through Saturday and Sunday, with the Eastern Shore and coast bearing the brunt of wind, surf, and tidal flooding. Inland, a patch of dense river-valley fog and even some frost is wrapping up west of the Blue Ridge as we speak.

Timing Today

• 6–9 AM: Patchy dense fog lingering in Potomac Highlands/Shenandoah-adjacent river valleys west of the Blue Ridge (far western MD fringe); Frost Advisory in effect until 9 AM for the highest Garrett County valleys.
• 9 AM–Noon: Fog and frost burn off quickly after sunrise. Sunshine spreads west-to-east across the state.
• Midday–Afternoon: Mostly sunny in the western two-thirds of Maryland; clouds thicken from the coast inland as the Nor’easter’s cirrus shield noses toward the Shore and Ocean City.
• Afternoon–Evening: Winds increase, especially near the Bay and coast — north winds around 30 mph at Ocean City, gusty 15–20 mph across the central/eastern counties.
• Tonight: A stray shower can’t be ruled out east of I-95, but most of the state stays dry. Rain chances climb overnight into the Eastern Shore and coastal waters.

Region by Region

Western Maryland

Garrett (Deep Creek/Oakland): High near 66° after a frosty, foggy start — patchy frost then sunny, light NE wind 3–8 mph. A crisp, clean mountain day once the sun burns off the valley fog by mid-morning.
Allegany (Cumberland): High around 73° — patchy fog early, then sunny, wind N 5–9 mph. Nicest air of the week up here.

Northern & Central Maryland

Washington Co. (Hagerstown): High 73° — patchy fog then sunny, breezier with N winds 6–14 mph. Dry all day.
Frederick & Carroll: High 73° under full sunshine, wind N 6–14 mph — the pick of the week for outdoor plans.

Baltimore Metro

Baltimore City & County, Harford, Howard, Anne Arundel: High 75° (mostly sunny), but wind steps up to N 10–15 mph — noticeably gustier near the Bay in Anne Arundel and Harford. A Coastal Flood Advisory continues for Anne Arundel shoreline through this morning. Dry today, with clouds building in tonight ahead of weekend rain.

DC Suburbs

Montgomery & Prince George’s: High around 72°, mostly sunny, wind N 10–15 mph. A dry, breezy Friday — enjoy it before weekend clouds and showers arrive.

Southern Maryland

Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s: High near 71°, partly sunny, wind N 13–16 mph — the breeziest of the inland counties today. Coastal Flood Advisories remain up this morning for Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Charles shoreline along the Bay and tidal Potomac, tied to elevated tides from the offshore storm.

Upper Eastern Shore

Cecil: Similar to the Baltimore Metro pattern — sunny start, breezy, wind picking up through the day.
Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline: High near 72° — partly sunny but wind already howling at 15–20 mph out of the north, with a slight (3%) rain chance sneaking in later. Coastal Flood Advisory in effect for Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Caroline shoreline areas — expect some minor tidal overflow on the Choptank, Chester, and Eastern Bay shorelines around high tide.

Lower Eastern Shore

Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset: High only around 68°, mostly cloudy with a 12% shower chance and wind N 14–18 mph. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect here — this is the more serious tidal flood threat on the Shore, with moderate to locally major inundation possible along the Wicomico, Nanticoke, and Honga River shorelines and Dorchester’s low-lying marsh roads. Plan alternate routes if you’re near Elliott Island Road, Hoopers Island, or similar flood-prone stretches.

Ocean City & the Coast

Worcester: High only in the upper 60s, wind a sustained 30 mph out of the north — genuinely windy beach weather. A 34% chance of light rain today, becoming more likely tonight and tomorrow. Surf running 6 to 10 feet with a High Surf Advisory in effect until 6 AM Saturday, plus a High Rip Current Risk and Beach Hazards Statement through Saturday evening — swimming is a bad idea through the weekend regardless of sunshine. A Coastal Flood Warning covers both the immediate beaches and inland Worcester County, with multiple rounds of tidal flooding expected into the weekend. High tide at the Ocean City Fishing Pier is 7:02 AM, low tide 1:13 PM.

Active Hazards — Full List

• Frost Advisory — Western & Eastern Garrett County (higher Allegheny Mountain valleys), until 9 AM today. Coldest cold-air sinks only.
• High Surf Advisory — Maryland beaches (Ocean City/Assateague), until 6 AM Saturday. Surf 6–10 feet.
• Beach Hazards Statement — Maryland beaches, through Saturday evening.
• High Rip Current Risk — Maryland beaches, through Saturday evening.
• Coastal Flood Warning — Inland Worcester County and Maryland beaches, plus Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset counties. Widespread moderate to locally major tidal flooding (2-3 feet of inundation in vulnerable spots) continuing through Saturday night, with some middle-Bay locations possibly into Sunday.
• Coastal Flood Advisory — Anne Arundel, St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, and Queen Anne’s/Talbot/Caroline shoreline areas. Minor tidal flooding possible, especially around high tide cycles.
• Gale Warning — Chesapeake Bay waters (Pooles Island south through the middle and lower Bay) tonight through early Saturday morning; near-shore Atlantic waters until Saturday evening. Mariners should stay in port.
• Small Craft Advisory — Tidal Potomac and additional Bay/tidal waters through the weekend.

Severe Weather & Flooding Outlook

No severe thunderstorm threat today — this is a wind-and-water event, not a lightning event. The real story is the Nor’easter’s tidal flooding, which NWS Wakefield calls

MD Weather Alerts · issued 6:02 AM, Friday, September 25