Baltimore Region

Forecasters are watching an expected outbreak of severe weather from Illinois to Maryland that some are likening to last June's derecho; one meteorologist predicted it would be a "multi billion dollar storm" causing massive power outages. Storms were developing in Illinois and Wisconsin early Wednesday evening, bringing tornado threats from there through Indiana and into Ohio. Meteorologists say conditions could be conducive for those storms to strengthen into a massive squall line packing up to 70 mph winds, large hail and heavy rain.

Atwood "Woody" Collins III, an executive vice president with M&T Bank, recently gave us his perspective on the future ("Taking a look at Baltimore's future," June 6). His view boils down to three elements: First, Baltimore's advantage of a deep-water port and its location in the center of the Eastern Seaboard. Second, the need to continue to attract entrepreneurial businesses. And third, the natural advantage of our waterfront, and its transition from industrial to residential tourism uses.

A tornado watch and flash flood warning are in effect for the Baltimore region, with heavy rain and gusty winds expected through the night. The tornado watch area includes all of central and southern Maryland and is effective through 2 a.m. Thursday. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development but does not mean any have or will occur. The Baltimore area is also under a flash-flood warning, coastal flood advisory and a wind advisory through early Thursday.

It should be crystal clear that the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland should ratchet up the discussion over replacing the 1stt Mariner Arena, a venue that has clearly outlived its usefulness. An observation made by Mark Turgeon, head basketball coach at the University of Maryland College Park, pointed out the problem: In discussing his willingness to foster stronger ties with the Baltimore region, Mr. Turgeon said his major obstacle was 1st Mariner. "We tried, and I don't see our playing up here in the foreseeable future," he said.

More homeowners are slipping below the waterline. About 125,000 homes in the Baltimore region were worth less than what their owners owed on the mortgages at the end of last year, up from nearly 120,000 last summer, according to estimates from real estate data firm CoreLogic. All told, close to 20 percent of borrowers are upside down on their mortgages, the company said. The underwater phenomenon grew nationally as well , engulfing an additional 400,000 homes and inching up to nearly 23 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage.

A dense fog advisory was issued for much of the Baltimore region Sunday night, with conditions expected to limit visibility through most of Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The fog was expected to start rolling into the region late Sunday from counties on the Eastern Shore and last through 9 a.m. Monday, the weather service said. Visibility was expected to drop to less than a quarter-mile, the weather service said. The advisory was in effect in Baltimore and Baltimore County, as well as in Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties.

A new report being released today calls on the Baltimore region to rethink economic development, pointing to a worrying trend: a mounting share of low-wage jobs shutting more and more residents out of the middle class. The number of jobs in largely low-paying industries such as retail and food service grew more than 60 percent in the region between 1980 and 2007, while jobs increased 36 percent in middle-wage fields and just under 10 percent in high-wage fields, according to the Brookings Institution study.

The notion that poor students are less likely to have access to high-quality educational options isn't new, but a report released today by the Brookings Institution sheds light on a factor that hasn't yet been highlighted as a driver of the achievement gap. The report examined test scores and housing costs in 100 of the largest metropolitan regions in the nation, including the Baltimore-Towson area, and found that  stringent zoning...

A light dusting of snow on Monday, with temperatures too high for accumulation, will be followed by a cold front that is expected to linger over the Baltimore region for the rest of the week. Brian Edwards, a meteorologist with Accuweather.com, said the high temperature into the weekend is not forecast to be warmer than about 25 degrees. "Not only that, the wind will be kicking up as well," Edwards said. "When you add in the wind, it will feel like it's down near zero. " Friday could bring a wintry mix and lead to a treacherous afternoon commute, Edwards said.

An intense, widespread storm system spawned at least one tornado Friday and battered parts of the Baltimore region with damaging winds and torrential rain, halting flights and flooding roads during rush hour. The storm ripped through Harford County, doing the most severe damage to a triangular area bordered by Belair Road, Harford Road and Route 152. What witnesses said was a tornado uprooted some trees, sheared off the tops of others, tore down power lines, collapsed two small buildings, sent at least one person to Maryland Shock Trauma Center and brought much of the greater Fallston area to a halt.

The National Weather Service, in Sterling, Va., has extended its small craft advisory until 8 p.m. Sunday for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the tidal Potomac River. Thunderstorms, some with damaging wind gusts and large hail, are expected this afternoon and this evening. Local flash flooding could occur during heavy downpours. The forecast for thunderstorms includes the Baltimore region. The NWS forecast is calling for thunderstorm to move into the city as well as in surrounding counties including Carroll, Baltimore, Howard, Harford and Anne Arundel.

Three industry groups from Baltimore and Washington said Thursday that they've banded together to "solidify" the region as the top place for cyber-related business growth. The new Baltimore-Washington Cyber Task Force - formed by the Greater Baltimore Committee, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore - will work with other groups on the effort. They want to capitalize on the U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, which oversees the operation and defense of the military's information networks.

President Barack Obama will visit Baltimore next Friday, the second in a series of outings aimed at selling his stalled jobs agenda. The trip follows one the president took this week to Austin, Texas, where he visited a school and a manufacturing plant. An administration official said it was too early to say where, specifically, the president's Maryland events will take place. The White House has been working to refocus attention on manufacturing jobs at a time when much of Washington is more consumed by the debates on immigration and the federal budget.

In the stop-and-go world of Baltimore-area traffic, there's a lot more braking than commuters and transportation officials would like. Take Russell Allen, a Federal Hill resident who gets in his silver Ford Edge every weekday morning before 7:30 and steers south toward Fort Meade and the region's biggest bottleneck: Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 175. The trip starts fine. But around Route 100, Allen's windshield relfects a dazzling array of red taillights. "And it stays that way until I get to work - four miles and 20 minutes later," said Allen, 52, who works for the Army.

By Kit Waskom Pollard Spring is a time for new beginnings, and that includes new hobbies. As the air gets warmer and the days last longer, it's the perfect time to try out a new outdoor sport. The Baltimore region offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun, from biking to paddleboarding. Thanks to local retailers that rent sporting equipment, budding outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen can try out new hobbies without investing too much money. Gary Weeden, of Annapolis boat and bike rental shop Paddle or Pedal, likens renting to test-driving a car. "Before you spend your money, this is a great way to try things out. Like with cars: Before you buy, rent and say, 'This is what I like and don't like.' " "If someone hasn't been on a bicycle for a while, and they're not sure of the type of bike they'll want to purchase, we offer several types they can try out at low cost," adds Jim White of Monkton Bikes.

The Baltimore region had the 17th worst traffic in the nation in 2012, according to INRIX, a leading provider of traffic data. The average driver spent 25.7 hours last year locking bumpers with fellow commuters, the sixth annual survey showed. The region did not place a single road in the top 100 for congestion. Los Angeles led the way, with 51 hours of wasted travel time; Washington was ninth, with 41 hours. Nationwide, traffic dropped 22 percent in 2012, the second consecutive year of decline, INRIX reported.

The National Weather Service has a wind advisory in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday for the Baltimore area. A wind advisory means that wind gusts over 45 mph are expected, and can make driving difficult, especially for "high-profile" vehicles. The weather service is forecasting winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. Forecasters say the strongest winds will be Saturday morning and afternoon. They advise motorists to use extra caution. Otherwise, the weather service is calling for Saturday to be mostly sunny, with a high near 49. There is a slight chance of showers before 2 p.m., then a chance of scattered showers and snow showers between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Little or no snow accumulation is expected.

Temperatures surpassed 90 degrees around the Baltimore region Wednesday, breaking a record that dates back to 1922. Thermometers reached 91 degrees at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at 4:24 p.m., rising 1 degree above the record for April 10 of 89 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures in the Inner Harbor meanwhile reached 96 degrees at 4:11 p.m. The morning started close to a record-setting low. BWI Airport reached 64 degrees early Wednesday morning.