A cold weather warning was in place for much of Maryland on Thursday, with temperatures plunging into the single digits after a weekend of snow.
The National Weather Service, which issued the report, expects overnight lows to be in the teens and daytime highs to be 10 degrees below freezing by Thursday.
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It could also mean light snow in the Baltimore area Tuesday morning and snow showers at night, according to the weather service. Temperatures have barely risen above freezing over the past few days, and the snow from last week has frozen over.
Harford County Public Schools and the Howard County Public School system were closed Tuesday due to severe weather, with the latter saying cancellations were due to “severe ice” and icy roads. Schools in Baltimore City and County are starting two hours later.
The Baltimore City Health Department also announced a “Code Blue” aimed at reducing deaths from hypothermia among homeless people, seniors and other groups vulnerable to extreme cold. It sparked several public safety initiatives, including the Salvation Army’s free hot drinks program.
A “Code Blue” was in effect Sunday night after a body was recovered from a burning vacant house on North Main Street and is expected to remain in effect through Thursday.
Additionally, the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services has extended its “Code Purple” winter shelter activation time to 9 a.m. Thursday, extending the opening hours of city-operated shelters. Residents in need of emergency shelter should call the Baltimore City Shelter Hotline at 443-984-9540.
As happened earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from disruptions in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air that normally traps the Arctic.
Tuesday's partly clear skies will turn to clouds in the afternoon and evening. The highest overnight temperature in Baltimore is about 22 degrees, the lowest temperature is about 12 degrees, and there will be local snow showers before midnight.
Wednesday is expected to be sunny with a maximum temperature of around 21 degrees and a wind chill of up to 8 degrees below. Wednesday night's low temperature will be around 15 degrees.
The weather will be slightly warmer on Thursday, with a high of about 32 degrees and a low of about 19 degrees.
This slight warming trend is expected to continue on Friday, when the maximum temperature will reach around 33 degrees, while the minimum temperature will remain in the teens.
Highs on Saturday will be in the mid-30s and lows in the 20s, while on Sunday, high temperatures could climb into the more seasonal 40s for the first time in a week.
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