Honestly, if you woke up in Frederick or Westminster this morning and saw a dusting of white on the grass, you probably weren't surprised. But if you’re down in Annapolis or hanging out near the D.C. line, you might be wondering where the "winter" went. Maryland weather is famously fickle, and weather today in Maryland is a textbook example of how a few miles can change your entire afternoon.
It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are currently caught in a weird atmospheric sandwich.
We had a quick-hitting "clipper" system zip through earlier this morning. It brought a burst of snow to the northern counties—places like Carroll, Northern Baltimore, and Northwest Montgomery—where a Winter Weather Advisory was actually in effect until noon. Some spots in those hilly suburbs actually saw 1 to 2 inches of slushy accumulation. But for most of us? The temperatures are just too stubborn.
The Midday Melt and the Slushy Transition
Right now, the mercury is hovering around 41°F in the Baltimore metro area. That’s the magic number where snow dreams go to die.
Even though there’s a 100% chance of precipitation throughout the day, the "snow" part of that forecast has mostly transitioned into a light rain or a cold, miserable drizzle for the I-95 corridor. If you’re driving on secondary roads in the northern tier, be careful. Those untreated surfaces stayed cold enough for some slick spots earlier, though the afternoon "warmth" (if you can call forty degrees warm) is doing a lot of the heavy lifting to clear the asphalt.
Winds are currently coming out of the southwest at a very lazy 1 mph, but don't let that fool you. They are expected to kick up to around 9 mph as the front fully pushes through.
Why Sunday is the Real Day to Watch
You've probably noticed the clouds aren't going anywhere. There’s a much more organized system brewing down south near Texas and Florida. By tomorrow morning, that low-pressure system is going to take a turn up the coast.
Here’s the nuance:
The European model (the one the local pros usually lean on for consistency) suggests that the heaviest moisture might stay just east of Annapolis. However, other models are pulling that snow line back toward the west. We’re looking at a 45% chance of rain and snow mixing again tonight as temperatures dip to a low of 35°F.
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- The Eastern Shore: You guys are actually the target for once. Places like Salisbury and the Maryland beaches are under a Winter Weather Advisory starting Sunday morning.
- Central MD: Expect more of the same—slushy, annoying flakes that might not stick to the roads but will definitely make your walk to the car annoying.
- The Mountains: Western Maryland is basically a different planet today, staying much more consistently "winter" than the rest of the state.
Expert Take: The Arctic Surge is Behind the Curtain
I talked to some folks following the National Weather Service updates, and the real story isn't the 1 inch of slush today. It's the "crash" coming Monday and Tuesday.
Once this Sunday system clears out, the floodgates for arctic air are going to open wide. We are talking single-digit wind chills by Tuesday morning. If you haven't pulled out the heavy-duty parka yet, today is the day to find it in the back of the closet.
Maryland weather today is basically a wet, gray transition period. It’s not a blizzard. It’s not a beach day. It’s just... Maryland in January.
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Practical Next Steps for Your Saturday:
Check your windshield wiper fluid. Seriously. Between the salt on the roads from this morning's dusting and the ongoing drizzle, you’re going to be spraying your glass every five minutes on the Parkway. Also, if you’re on the Eastern Shore or in Southern Maryland, move any sensitive outdoor plants or patio furniture today; Sunday's system will be gustier and potentially more "white" than what we’re seeing right now.