Winter storm brings heavy snow, ice and dangerous cold to Baltimore Sunday
Maryland will continue to see heavy snowfall Sunday morning, with possible rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour.
Temperatures will remain in the teens, and snow will stick to most surfaces, creating hazardous travel conditions.
Sunday, and Monday are First Alert Weather Days due to the extreme cold and winter storm.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the entire state of Maryland until Monday morning.
State officials are warning residents to stay off the roads Sunday, and many Maryland schools have already announced cancellations for Monday.
How much snow and ice could Maryland get?
There is a high likelihood of 6 or more inches of snow across much of Maryland.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, BWI Airport measured 4.1 inches, while parts of Western Maryland have seen up to 5 inches.
There is the potential of double-digit snowfall totals in areas that receive all snow and no mixing. More than 7 inches of snow is expected across most of the Baltimore metro.
In addition to heavy snow Sunday morning, there will be sleet and/or freezing rain midday Sunday and into the evening, especially in areas along and southeast of I-95.
Snow and sleet accumulation will average between 10 inches and 14 inches in parts of Frederick, Carroll and northern Baltimore Counties. Snowfall totals between 7 inches and 11 inches are expected along the I-95 corridor. Between 5 inches and 8 inches may accumulate on much of the eastern shore.
The above forecast totals will come from a combination of snow and heavy sleet. Up to a quarter-inch of freezing rain is possible on top of sleet and snow.
The storm will taper off Sunday night as the storm responsible for the winter storm slowly eases northeast away from our area.
Bitter cold continues next week
An unusually cold weather pattern will continue through the next seven to ten days. Temperatures may remain below freezing all next week in many areas. The prolonged period of cold weather will keep snow and ice around longer than normal. Temperatures may dip to dangerous levels at times during the workweek. Make sure your property is winterized heading into this extremely cold weather.
The next chance for snow returns on Thursday. This next round of snow looks light, but it could be impactful since the ground is so cold. Check back for updates as the timing and amounts for this storm become clearer as we approach Thursday.
The WJZ First Alert Weather Team will be updating the weekend forecast through the rest of this week.
Continue to keep a closer-than-normal eye on the forecast.