Friday showers will clear for weekend, Preakness

Portions of Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties got close to an inch, or more, in last evening's storms.

They're not predicting much more in the way of rain today, however. And the cold front is beginning to push north again. Winds will slowly swing to the southeast as the offshore high starts to move away, and temperatures will rise into the 60s as a bit of sun peeks through later today.

By Friday we'll be dealing with the next cold front, slipping down out of the northwest as low pressure moves across the Great Lakes to our north. Before that front gets here, though, we'll see winds shift to the south and southwest, bringing warmer, wetter air our way. That will mean some morning showers, a break, and then more showers and thunderstorms possible late in the afternoon or Friday evening.

Once the cold front passes by, Saturday will begin to dry us out. Skies will become mostly sunny, and race fans should expect it will be "windy on Saturday, like it was last Sunday," forecasters at Sterling said in this morning's forecast discussion.

Temperatures at the track may reach 75 degrees Saturday afternoon. Pretty nice. But hold onto your hats.

Sunday looks nice, too ... sunny and low 70s. The next chance for rain will come late Monday and continue most of the week.

(SUN PHOTO/Lloyd Fox, 2006)