Ice Accumulation Estimates Released For MD Ahead Of Winter Storm: Latest Forecast

A winter storm packing snow, sleet and freezing rain will move across parts of Maryland on Friday, leading to possible power outages and disrupting post-holiday travel plans, according to the latest forecasts.

A winter weather advisory will be in effect from noon Friday until midnight for portions of central, north central and northern Maryland, according to the National Weather Service. Counties included in the advisory are Baltimore, Montgomery, Howard, Frederick and Carroll.

Precipitation is likely to move across the Baltimore region on Friday afternoon in the form of sleet or freezing rain, the National Weather Service said. Freezing rain with some sleet mixing in will continue through the afternoon and evening, although some lower elevations may just see rain.

Temperatures will continue to rise above freezing from south to north into the evening, according to the advisory, allowing precipitation to transition to more rain.

"Some locations may hover near the freezing mark through tonight. Precipitation exits off to the northeast, with some light drizzle or freezing drizzle possibly lingering into the early overnight hours," the National Weather Service wrote.

Harford and Cecil counties are likely to see total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch. Locally higher amounts to two-tenths of an inch are possible.

Farther south, total ice accumulations between a trace and one-tenth of an inch are expected, with sleet accumulations of less than one-half inch.

The higher elevations of northern Carroll, Harford and Baltimore County in Maryland will have to deal with slippery travel thanks to ice, but farther south, it’ll mostly be a rain event in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said Friday.

The winter storm is expected to clear out of the state by Saturday morning. On Saturday, the forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with high temperatures in the low 40s. There's a chance for rain on Sunday, mainly after 1 p.m. Conditions will be cloudy, with a high near 46.

Here's a look at the detailed National Weather Service forecast for the region:

Friday: A slight chance of freezing rain and sleet before 3pm, then rain and sleet likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Friday Night: Rain and sleet before 10pm, then a chance of rain between 10pm and 2am. Low around 33. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Light northeast wind.

Sunday: A chance of rain, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday: Rain, mainly before 1pm. High near 60. Chance of precipitation is 80%.