Weather Alert: Wind Chills Dangerous Across Maryland

After a balmy start, true winter weather has its grip on Maryland, with bone-chilling winds and cold overnight temperatures setting into the region.

The National Weather Service issued a wind chill advisory at 3 p.m. Monday, which is in effect until noon Tuesday for several Maryland counties.

Areas included in the advisory are: Carroll; northern and southern Baltimore; northwest, central and southeast Montgomery; northwest, central and southeast Howard; and northwest and southeast Harford.

Wind chill readings will make the temperature feel like 5 to 10 degrees below zero in the lower elevations and 10 to 20 degrees below zero in the higher elevations. Winds out of the northwest from 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph will exacerbate low temperatures in the single digits and lower teens.

The weather service warns that extremely low wind chills present a threat for the rapid development of frostbite and hypothermia. If you must go outside, make sure you wear a hat and gloves, forecasters urge.

As if that wasn’t enough, the service is forecasting a potential winter storm for Friday and Saturday. It would be the first significant snowfall we’ve seen this season.

Potential impacts include significant travel delays and closures. “Plan ahead to minimize impact on you and your family,” according to the weather service.

More: Significant Winter Storm Possible

Timeline: The snow will likely begin by 7 a.m. Friday in Maryland, with the best chances in the evening and overnight hours. Snow is likely to continue on Saturday, with a chance of it snowing into the night.

Accumulation: It’s too early in the forecast to say for certain how much snow will fall. As of Monday morning, The Weather Channel forecast put the range of total accumulation from 9 inches to more than a foot. But these numbers are likely to change as the storm gets closer.