Baltimore, Maryland – The risk of a winter storm impacting Maryland is increasing, as forecasters track a developing system that could bring accumulating snow and hazardous travel conditions to the region this weekend, according to the NOAA Weather Prediction Center.
The outlook highlights the period from 7 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Monday, when a strengthening storm system may affect the Interstate 95 corridor, including Baltimore, Washington’s northern suburbs, and central Maryland.
As of Monday evening, Maryland is included in a 20% probability zone for at least moderate winter storm impacts, with forecasters noting that confidence is trending upward as the overall pattern becomes more defined. Officials caution that specific snowfall totals and timing remain uncertain.
What forecasters know:
- Very cold Arctic air will remain entrenched across the Mid-Atlantic, ensuring any precipitation falls as snow, including along the I-95 corridor.
- A high-altitude disturbance is expected to dive out of Canada late Thursday, then deepen across the eastern U.S. by Saturday.
- This evolution is likely to generate a surface low-pressure system, which could track close enough to the coast to impact Maryland and the Chesapeake region.
- Even small shifts in storm track could significantly affect Baltimore, Towson, Columbia, and surrounding communities.
What remains uncertain:
- The exact coastal or inland track of the surface low
- Where the heaviest snow bands ultimately set up
- Whether impacts are brief or prolonged during the Friday–Monday window
With temperatures expected to remain below freezing throughout the period, even moderate snowfall could lead to extended icy conditions, reduced visibility, and major travel delays, particularly during overnight hours and early-morning commutes on I-95, I-695 (Baltimore Beltway), I-83, and Route 50.
Residents are urged to closely monitor forecast updates through midweek, especially those planning weekend travel or work commutes, as probabilities may continue to rise with improving forecast confidence.
