Maryland weather: Baltimore could get 2-3 inches of snow, Eastern Shore even more Friday into Saturday

Confidence has been building that an offshore storm will bring winter weather to the Baltimore area, but forecasters say Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore are likely to be harder hit.

Thursday morning, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for much of the Eastern Shore, warning of heavy snow, with 6 to 10 inches possible, alongside gusty winds up to 45 mph. No such warning has been issued for the Baltimore area, where conditions are expected to be less severe.

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In northern parts of Baltimore County and in Carroll County, only an inch or two of snow may fall. Closer to the Chesapeake Bay and in Baltimore, 2-3 inches could fall. Annapolis could see 4 inches, Lexington Park in Southern Maryland 5 to 8 inches and Ocean City anywhere from 8 inches to a foot.

The volatile storm, poised to develop off the coast of the Carolinas and head north toward eastern Canada, has kept meteorologists guessing. If the storm system tracks further east, the projected totals will plummet. If it heads further west, Baltimore could get up to 6 inches.

Any precipitation is likely to start falling around midday Friday in Baltimore. Because Friday’s high temperature is around 37 degrees, it could initially be a mix of rain and snow. As night nears and temperatures drop, snow will take over. Overnight, the low is 19 degrees, and snow will continue into Saturday morning. Saturday is poised to be blustery and cold, with a high temperature of 25 degrees.

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Workers remove snow from the ice rink at Color Burst Park in the Merriweather District in Columbia. (Kevin Richardson)