Jan. 3—The first flakes of an expected wintry mix started falling in downtown Baltimore on Friday afternoon ahead of a stronger winter storm, possibly bringing 4 to 8 inches of snow early Monday morning.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and other local officials urged city residents to take the proper precautions at a Friday afternoon news conference, where the mayor noted that the city is taking an “all hands on deck” effort to prepare for the first major snowfall of the season.
[ Get the latest weathercast from FOX45 News ]
“I know we have not had a lot of snow in the past few years, so we’re just asking all of our residents: Please take this storm seriously,” said Joey Henderson, director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday for most of Central Maryland, with up to an inch of snow expected to accumulate near BWI Marshall Airport on Friday but one to 2 inches of snow forecast further north.
Skies are expected to clear up Saturday in time for a chilly Ravens game, though the weather service says to count on a moderate winter storm come late Sunday night. Monday’s storm could bring anywhere from 4 to 8 inches to the Baltimore metro area — but the total is subject to change, meteorologists noted.
Friday’s brief snowfall, mixed with some rain, is expected to wrap up before 7 p.m. according to the weather service.
The forecast for Friday calls for a high of 41 near BWI, meaning rain is expected to start falling in the Baltimore area before mixing with snow. Less than half an inch is expected at BWI, while Carroll County Regional Airport is expected to get 1 to 2 inches of straight snow. Snow squalls — brief but intense periods of heavy snow causing limited visibility — are possible throughout the Baltimore area, the weather service said.
The potential for snow squalls exists tomorrow, especially in the mountains and across northern Maryland.
The snow squalls are expected to be in the vicinity of the metro areas near the evening commute. Currently, confidence in impacts is highest around the Baltimore metro. pic.twitter.com/0A8G4rhMk9
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 3, 2025
Friday’s predicted snowfall prompted public schools in Baltimore County, Frederick County and Carroll County to close two hours early, the school districts said on social media. Howard County Public Schools closed 90 minutes early on Friday. After-school activities are canceled in Baltimore City, Harford County and Montgomery County. After-school activities will continue as scheduled in Anne Arundel County, a spokesperson said Friday afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of 24 on Friday night near BWI as the snow stops. A gentle to moderate breeze, with gusts as high as 26 mph, is expected to bring wind chill down to the teens overnight and into Saturday morning.
Any snow left over on roadways will likely freeze overnight, said Gerard Jebaily, chief meteorologist for FOX45 News.
The weekend should remain clear, but windy, until more winter weather is expected to arrive shortly after midnight on Monday.
Saturday will bring a high of 33 and gusts of western wind as high as 32 mph before temperatures dip below freezing as the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s low will be around 24, and Sunday is expected to be sunny with a high near 34.
How much snow will fall on Monday is still not certain. Jebaily said the current outlook is for 4 to 8 inches in the Baltimore area, with most of the snowfall wrapping up by sunset. He noted, though, that a heavy storm band could bring more than 8 inches — up to a foot of snow — somewhere in the state. It’s just unknown where it will land.
The system predicted to cause the winter storm just landed on the West Coast after traversing the Pacific Ocean, which is why the outlook for Sunday and Monday is still hazy. However, the models consistently show Maryland in the system’s path and at the temperatures to cause snow, he said. But warm air from the south could be pulled into the system, reducing possible snow totals.
“This storm could change,” Henderson, Baltimore’s OEM director, said. “We are hoping that it does, but if not, the city is prepared.”
The city’s winter shelters are active through Tuesday. The city began treating its roadways with brine late Thursday night, and will be doing so again in advance of Sunday’s expected snowstorm, said Veobia Akilo, interim director of Baltimore’s Department of Transportation. Motorists should take it slow Friday evening, and avoid the roads during snowfall when possible, she said.
The snow will continue into Monday with temperatures in the low to mid 30s. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. The chance of snow is 100%,
Baltimore Sun reporter Todd Karpovich contributed to this article.
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Originally Published:January 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM EST