Maryland snowfall totals from Sunday’s winter storm show 6 to 12 inches across many communities
Snow and sleet piled up across central Maryland as the storm intensified Sunday
A winter storm that began late Saturday and peaked Sunday morning delivered significant snowfall across Maryland, with many communities reporting totals in the mid-single digits to low double digits by late Sunday. Observations compiled from official weather reporting networks showed the heaviest totals concentrated from the Baltimore metro area into parts of Howard, Montgomery, and Harford counties, while amounts trended lower on the Eastern Shore and portions of Southern Maryland.
In Baltimore City, measured snowfall reached 8.6 inches at one reporting location by Sunday evening. At Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, snowfall was measured at 11.1 inches, a notable total for the region and among the higher readings reported in central Maryland during the event.
Selected totals illustrate sharp differences by county and elevation
Snowfall totals varied over relatively short distances, reflecting the storm’s evolving precipitation types and banding. In and around the Baltimore region, several locations reached or exceeded 10 inches, while nearby communities reported totals closer to 6 to 8 inches.
- BWI Airport (Anne Arundel County): 11.1 inches
- Cockeysville (Baltimore County): 10.0 inches
- Edgemere (Baltimore County): 10.3 inches
- Arlington (Baltimore City): 8.6 inches
- Columbia (Howard County): 10.6 inches
- Clarksburg (Montgomery County): 11.6 inches
- Aberdeen Proving Ground (Harford County): 10.1 inches
- Watersville (Carroll County): 9.5 inches
- Cambridge (Dorchester County): 2.5 inches
Storm evolution added complexity: heavy snow, then sleet and ice
The event featured a rapid accumulation phase early Sunday, with snowfall rates reported at 1 to 2 inches per hour in parts of central Maryland while temperatures remained in the teens. As the day progressed, many areas saw a transition from snow to sleet and, in some locations, periods of freezing rain. That shift limited additional snow accumulation in some communities while increasing the risk of slick, compacted surfaces that are difficult to clear.
By Sunday evening, Baltimore City reported more than 8 inches of accumulation while warning that icy conditions would persist into the start of the workweek.
Operational impacts: emergency posture and closures heading into Monday
City officials in Baltimore kept emergency operations active Sunday night as snowfall tapered, citing continued hazardous travel conditions and below-freezing temperatures. Service modifications and closures were announced for Monday, January 26, as crews continued plowing and treatment operations and temperatures remained cold enough to preserve snowpack and refreeze meltwater.
Snowfall reports were expected to continue updating as final measurements were compiled and as drifting and compaction effects were assessed.