After the heavy rains on the 12th, August was already well ahead of the long-term averages for rainfall in Baltimore. The airport has recorded 4.74 inches so far this month, nearly two inches more than the average.
But the forecast from here looks dry. The folks in Sterling show the clouds we see today clearing away by tomorrow and Friday, with relatively cool, dry air moving in from the Great Lakes, as it often does here in late August.
And that means no rain anywhere in the 7-day forecast. We're looking at clear skies, sunshine and starry nights right through Tuesday, with temperatures slowly climbing back into the seasonable 80s, and by Sunday back toward the downright hot 90-degree range.
Looks like a fine weekend for the beach, or just about any outdoor activity you may be planning before the kiddies (most of them) go back to school on Monday.
Radiational cooling at night will drop temperatures into the 50s across much of the region Thursday and Friday nights. Open the sash and have a blanket handy.
Clear and dry may be fine for Central Maryland, which has seen plenty of rain in recent weeks. But Western Maryland, Southern Maryland and the Lower Eastern Shore remain very dry. Another week of sunny skies will only add to their problems.
(SUN PHOTO: Amy Davis, 2007)