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Maryland Wakes to Unexpected Snow Warnings
2 Jan
Summary
- National Weather Service issued snow squall alerts around 4 a.m.
- Alerts aimed to warn motorists of sudden whiteout conditions.
- Residents complained about the early morning and tornado-like alerts.
National Weather Service alerts jolted many Maryland residents awake around 4 a.m. on January 2, 2026, warning of fast-moving snow squalls. These alerts were designed to inform motorists about rapidly deteriorating conditions, including sudden whiteout visibility and wind gusts up to 35 mph.
The Baltimore/Washington office of the NWS had anticipated a potent line of snow showers moving into Maryland between 3 and 5 a.m. The intent was to warn both those already traveling and early morning commuters about the potential for dangerous, short-lived bursts of snow.
However, the 4 a.m. timing of the alerts, described by some as tornado-level warnings, sparked significant complaints on social media. While the National Weather Service confirmed the alerts, they stated the timing was necessary to address the immediate nature of the threat posed by snow squalls.
