Baltimore went from a record-breaking 88 degrees on Wednesday to a cool, showery Thursday, and the whiplash isn’t over: forecasters expect a brief return to the low 80s on Friday, evening thunderstorms, strong winds during Saturday’s Baltimore Running Festival and the season’s first widespread frost possible on Sunday morning. If you are running, cheering, gardening or still have the air conditioning on, here is what the next five days look like and what to do about it.
How hot did it get in Baltimore on Wednesday?
BWI Marshall Airport reached 88 degrees Wednesday afternoon, breaking the Oct. 14 record of 86 degrees set in 1975, according to CBS News Baltimore. Washington, D.C., hit 90 degrees, which local meteorologist Justin Berk noted was the latest date on the calendar the city had reached that mark since 1919. Berk counted nine record highs around the region, most of them replacing marks from 1975.
For perspective, the normal high in Baltimore in mid-October is 69 degrees and the normal low is 47, based on the Oct. 15 climate figures Berk publishes. Wednesday ran close to 20 degrees above normal, and it landed in the same week as Maryland’s power grid emergency. Our Monday outlook flagged the mid-80s; the actual reading beat it.
What is the Baltimore forecast day by day?
| Day | What to expect | High / low (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Oct. 15 | Much cooler; afternoon showers (60% chance) | 65 / — |
| Friday, Oct. 16 | Warm start, evening thunderstorms (70% chance), then gusty winds | 82 / 58 |
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | Morning shower, windy and chilly | 55 / 49 |
| Sunday, Oct. 18 | Frost possible early, cool afternoon | 58 / 38 |
| Monday, Oct. 19 | Still cool | 63 / 41 |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20 | Close to seasonal | 66 / 46 |
When will Friday’s storms reach Baltimore?
CBS News Baltimore has labeled both Friday and Saturday First Alert Weather Days. Friday starts mild, with highs in the lower 80s early in the day, before a strong cold front sweeps through. The station expects the heaviest burst of rain and gusty wind in the early evening, close to the Friday evening commute. Rain tapers off overnight, but winds stay up, and temperatures fall into the 40s and 50s by Saturday morning.
Practical steps before Friday afternoon: bring in patio cushions, umbrellas and anything light on balconies, and keep trash and recycling bins secured if your pickup falls on Friday or Saturday. Allow extra time on the road during the storm window, and watch for wet leaves, which can be slick.
How windy will it be for the Baltimore Running Festival?
About 15,000 runners are expected on Saturday across the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K, according to the city’s Department of Transportation. CBS News Baltimore forecasts gusts of 25 to 35 mph Saturday morning and 25 to 40 mph in the afternoon, with wind chills in the upper 30s to low 40s for the first several hours. Berk’s forecast calls for gusts of 20 to 30 mph, especially in the morning, with winds easing Saturday night.
“Keep gusty winds in mind if you’re planning outdoor activities.”
— CBS News Baltimore forecast, Oct. 2026
For runners, that means a throwaway layer at the start, gloves and a hat that won’t blow off, and expecting stronger gusts on open stretches of the course. Spectators should dress for the low 40s, not Friday’s 80s. Street closures start at 6 a.m.; check our guide to Running Festival road closures before you drive.
Will Baltimore get its first frost on Sunday?
Possibly. CBS News Baltimore says the first widespread frost of the season is possible Sunday morning, and Berk expects frost to be likely once the winds calm, with a forecast low near 38 degrees for Baltimore. Frost can form even when the official low stays above freezing, because grass, car windshields and plant leaves cool faster than the air measured several feet off the ground. Outlying, low-lying areas usually turn frosty before the city and the Inner Harbor. In Western Maryland’s mountains, CBS says a few snowflakes are possible early Saturday, with no accumulation expected.
For a sense of timing, the University of Maryland Extension’s sample frost data for Frederick, based on NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals, shows a 50% chance of the first 32-degree reading by Oct. 30. A frosty Sunday would not be unusual for mid-October in the region, but it would arrive just days after summer-like heat.
What should Baltimore residents do before the cold snap?
- Bring in tender plants. UMD Extension recommends moving annuals such as geraniums and begonias indoors before the first frost if you want to keep them, and harvesting the last vegetables before a significant frost.
- Cover what stays outside. Use frost cloth, floating row cover or an old sheet on Saturday evening, and remove it once Sunday morning warms up.
- Switch the thermostat. If your system has been on cooling all week, test the heat before Saturday night.
- Bring pets in on Saturday night and early Sunday.
- Watch the wind. After Friday’s storms, check for loose gutters and limbs before Saturday’s stronger gusts.
When does it warm up again?
The chill does not look long-lasting. Berk’s seven-day outlook keeps Monday cool, in the low 60s, before highs return to the mid-to-upper 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday, close to normal for the third week of October.
Featured image: A fall trail in Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore. Photo: Nicolas Raymond / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.