Maryland schools and universities announce closures and delays for Monday, February 23, 2026 storm

Operational changes spread across education and courts as winter weather nears

Multiple Maryland school systems, colleges and universities, and court facilities announced closures or modified schedules for Monday, February 23, 2026, as a winter storm was forecast to arrive overnight Sunday into Monday. The wave of early decisions reflects the likelihood that hazardous morning travel and uncertain snowfall totals could affect bus routes, student commutes, and campus operations.

The most extensive closures reported in the Baltimore region and along the Eastern Shore included countywide public school shutdowns, campus closures at several major institutions, and the suspension of operations at select court facilities. In other jurisdictions, administrators opted for delayed openings with scheduled re-evaluations early Monday morning, indicating that conditions at daybreak could determine whether additional cancellations are issued.

Where closures and delays were announced

As of the latest round of updates published Sunday, the following operational changes were listed for Monday:

• Caroline County Public Schools: closed
• Cecil County Public Schools: closed with virtual instruction
• Harford County Public Schools: closed
• Queen Anne’s County Public Schools: closed; Code Red in effect for employees, with emergency and essential staff directed to contact supervisors
• Wicomico County Public Schools and central offices: closed
• Carroll County Public Schools: two-hour delay with a re-evaluation scheduled at 7 a.m.
• Howard County Public Schools: two-hour delay; offices opening late; morning sessions of half-day pre-K and RECC canceled; conditions to be re-evaluated by 7:30 a.m.

Higher education and courts also adjust schedules

Several Maryland higher-education institutions listed campus-wide closures for Monday, with remote operations in place for some. Closures included Coppin State University, Towson University, and Chesapeake College. Morgan State University listed the campus as closed with remote operations in effect. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore listed closed status with remote operations.

Two court facilities were also listed as closed: the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

What families should expect Monday morning

School systems that opted for delays rather than immediate closures signaled that overnight conditions and early-morning roadway assessments would drive final decisions. Districts commonly consider factors such as the condition of primary and secondary roads, neighborhood streets serving bus routes, and the safety of walking routes to schools.

Families should anticipate that additional updates may be issued early Monday, particularly in jurisdictions that scheduled re-evaluations around 7 a.m.

School communities and employees are typically advised to monitor official district and campus communication channels for the most current information, including transportation changes and the status of after-school activities.