Maryland Braces for Winter Storm Impact

Maryland is preparing for a significant winter storm forecast to bring hazardous road conditions, heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold from Saturday night into early Monday morning. Governor Wes Moore has declared a "State of Preparedness" to coordinate statewide response efforts.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for several counties and Baltimore City, with forecasters predicting heavy snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour, potentially accumulating over six inches in the Baltimore region. Temperatures are expected to be in the teens, causing rapid snow accumulation and the possibility of sleet and freezing rain.

Baltimore is actively preparing by pretreating roads with brine, especially critical areas like bridges and overpasses. City crews are ready for continuous plowing and treatment operations. A Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert has also been activated, providing resources and warming shelters for vulnerable residents.

Annapolis will implement a Phase Two Snow Emergency starting Saturday evening, requiring vehicles to be removed from snow emergency routes. The city is offering free parking in designated garages and has activated plow crews to pre-treat roads. Residents are reminded of the requirement to clear sidewalks and cautioned about potentially dangerous, icy road conditions, including black ice.