Maryland school systems shift to closures and virtual classes Thursday, Jan. 29, amid prolonged cold
Frigid temperatures and lingering ice extend disruptions after weekend storm
Public school systems across Maryland are altering operations for Thursday, January 29, 2026, as the region remains locked in a prolonged stretch of below-freezing temperatures following a snow and ice event that began over the weekend. District leaders cited continuing hazards on untreated side streets, sidewalks, bus stops and school access points as the central factor in decisions to cancel in-person classes or move instruction online.
The cold snap has slowed melting and made refreezing a persistent concern, leaving patches of ice in neighborhoods even as main roads improve. Across the Baltimore region and the broader Washington-area commuter belt, systems have emphasized transportation safety, including conditions for buses, student walking routes, and staff access to buildings.
How major districts plan to operate Thursday
Anne Arundel County Public Schools: virtual instruction on Thursday, with school-day start times set for 9:00 a.m. or 9:15 a.m., depending on school schedules.
Baltimore County Public Schools: district communications and planning documents describe the option to use virtual instruction during inclement weather, with virtual days generally beginning on a delayed schedule to allow time for log-ins and access to materials. District operational plans also reference remote work expectations for many non-essential employees when buildings are not operating normally.
Harford County Public Schools: closed Thursday, with afterschool and evening activities canceled and essential personnel guidance issued separately through the system’s inclement-weather procedures.
Montgomery County Public Schools: closed Thursday under the system’s “Code Red” severe-weather status, which limits reporting requirements to essential personnel.
Why virtual instruction is being used more frequently
Virtual instruction days have become a more common tool for Maryland districts during extreme weather. Baltimore County’s published plan for the 2025–2026 school year notes that districts may count virtual instruction days toward required instructional time and that these days are designed to reduce the need to add make-up days later in the academic calendar. The approach relies on students having access to devices and a learning platform from home, with schools typically communicating schedules and expectations in advance of forecasted events.
Public safety concerns extend beyond school operations
The extreme cold has triggered broader municipal responses in Baltimore, including cold-weather alerts and expanded coordinated services for residents at risk of exposure. City emergency management updates during the storm period also described round-the-clock snow operations and ongoing treatment of streets, underscoring how prolonged freezing conditions can extend disruptions well beyond the end of precipitation.
As school systems weigh reopening decisions, the most consistent operational driver has been whether bus routes, sidewalks and building access points can be made safe under sustained subfreezing temperatures.
Families are advised to monitor district channels for schedule changes, including possible adjustments for Friday, January 30, if icy conditions persist.