Baltimore, Maryland – As Arctic air settles firmly over Maryland through late January and into early February, the cold gripping the state will feel harsher than temperatures alone suggest. Gusty winds sweeping through cities, across open farmland, and along the Chesapeake Bay are rapidly accelerating heat loss, creating dangerous wind chill conditions statewide.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chill describes how quickly the body loses heat when wind strips away the thin layer of warmth that normally surrounds exposed skin. As wind speeds increase, skin temperature drops faster, making it feel significantly colder than the actual air temperature and increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
Maryland’s geography intensifies the effect in distinct ways. In the Baltimore metro area, winds funneling between buildings and along the Inner Harbor can create sudden bursts of biting cold on streets, transit platforms, and bridges. Central Maryland communities, including Columbia and Annapolis, face prolonged exposure as Arctic air moves freely across open terrain. Along the Chesapeake Bay, steady winds off the water amplify cold from Havre de Grace to the Eastern Shore, especially for those working on docks, bridges, and waterways. Farther west, the higher elevations of Garrett and Allegany counties experience the most severe wind chills, where persistent winds and subzero air combine to create dangerous outdoor conditions.
Wind chill does not freeze pipes or vehicles below the actual air temperature, but it freezes people faster. Exposed skin on hands, ears, noses, and faces can develop frostbite in as little as 10 to 15 minutes during extreme wind chill conditions. Children, older adults, outdoor workers, and unhoused populations face heightened risk, while pets left outdoors without proper shelter can lose body heat rapidly, even with thick coats.
Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in layered, wind-resistant clothing, fully cover exposed skin, and check on neighbors during the coldest periods. With Arctic air expected to linger into early February, additional cold-related advisories and warnings may be issued as wind and temperature continue to combine into hazardous conditions across Maryland.
