The WJZ First Alert Weather Team has declared Sunday a First Alert Weather Day for a one-two punch of snow then bitter cold. 

In the meantime, the weather will continue to be quite cold, but quiet through Friday night. Saturday will see an increase in cloud cover, but the weather stays dry, which is great news for the Army vs Navy game.

A mix of rain and snow is possible Saturday evening before changing to all snow Saturday night. Accumulating snow is likely during the overnight hours and should end by early Sunday morning. A bitter blast of cold will follow. 

Dry, chilly weather through Saturday afternoon

High pressure will keep our weather cold and quiet through the beginning of the weekend. 

Friday night will be cold and quiet. Overnight lows will dip into the lower to middle 20s with a gradual increase in cloud cover. 

Travel weather will stay good as roads stay dry through early Saturday evening. High temperatures will top out in the in the lower to middle 40s Saturday with a mostly cloudy to cloudy sky.

Western Maryland, including areas like Wisp Ski Resort, are under winter storm warnings for snow accumulating 4 to 8 inches. This snowfall combined with wind gusts to 35 mph will create near blizzard conditions at times Saturday. 

Accumulating Snow in Maryland Saturday into Sunday

Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, and Talbot counties in Maryland from 7 p.m. Saturday through 1 p.m. Sunday for a few inches of snow and slippery travel. 

Winter Storm Warning is in effect for western Garrett county in Maryland for 4 to 8 inches of snow from 1 p.m. Saturday through 4 p.m. Sunday.

An area of low pressure will push in from the west late Saturday into Sunday. This will bring a batch of light to moderate snow to the area beginning  late Saturday evening and continuing into early Sunday morning. 

The snow should begin after 10 p.m. Saturday. It may begin as a brief rain and snow mix at the start. As colder air filters in behind the storm, snow should begin to stick overnight Saturday into Sunday. The timeline of when the snow begins to fall is sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday. 

Given that the snow arrives during the overnight hours, it should start to stick quickly to most untreated surfaces. The accumulation forecast is for a general 1 to 3 inches of snow across much of central and eastern Maryland, including Baltimore. Some areas may get upwards of 4 inches of snow in areas that receive some of the heavier snow banding. 

Travel on Sunday morning will be messy and slippery, especially on untreated surfaces and on secondary roads. The snow should quickly come to an end before sunrise, but slippery travel will linger. Community activities and services may be delayed or cancelled on Sunday morning due to the snow. 

Arctic cold next week for Baltimore

The coldest air of the season yet will arrive Sunday evening and Sunday night. Temperatures will plunge into the teens and lower 20s by early Sunday evening. Winds out of the northwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 25 mph will continue into Sunday night.

Wind-chills overnight Sunday into Monday morning will be a problem with single-digit temperatures possible. Combine the bitter cold wind-chills with any leftover snow on the ground, and the conditions are ripe for refreeze. Please use extreme caution if driving Sunday night into early Monday morning.

Monday looks cold and sunny with highs in the lower 30s, so some gradual melting will take place.

Much milder temperatures are likely by the end of next week, with highs returning to the 50s and the chance for rain.