Winter in Charm City just got real. Honestly, if you looked out your window this morning and saw a messy mix of rain and flakes, you've already seen the "polite" part of today's forecast. Baltimore is currently sitting in a cold, clear night, but don't let that stillness fool you. The temperature has dipped to 28°F, and with a northwest wind biting at 8 mph, it actually feels like 19°F out there right now.
Basically, it's the kind of cold that gets into your bones the second you step off your porch.
Earlier today, we saw a high of 36°F, which is pretty much the peak of the "warmth" we're going to get for a while. The city was hit with a mix of rain and snow during the daylight hours, leaving about a 45% chance of precipitation that mostly played out as a slushy mess on the side streets. Now, as we move deeper into the night, the sky has cleared up, but that brings its own set of problems.
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What's the weather in baltimore today and why it matters tonight
When the clouds clear out after a day of rain and snow, we run into the "refreeze" problem. Since the low tonight is hitting 24°F, any water or slush left on the pavement is turning into a sheet of ice. If you're driving home late or heading out early tomorrow, you've gotta be careful. Black ice doesn't care about your all-wheel drive.
The humidity is hovering around 60%, which keeps the air feeling heavy despite the clear sky. We aren't expecting more snow tonight—the chance has dropped to a slim 15%—but the damage from earlier today is already done.
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The Code Blue factor
The city isn't just playing around with these numbers. Baltimore officials have already triggered a Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert. This isn't some routine weather update; it's a serious health warning that kicks in when temperatures or wind chills are expected to be dangerous. Mayor Brandon Scott and the Health Department are opening up warming centers because, frankly, the upcoming days are looking even more brutal than tonight.
We’re looking at wind chills that could drop into the single digits or even near zero as the week progresses. If you have neighbors who are older or pets that usually stay outside, now is the time to check on them. Seriously.
Surviving the Baltimore freeze
Kinda weird to think that just a few days ago things felt manageable. Now, we’re looking at a northwest wind that isn't letting up. Tomorrow, the wind speed is expected to pick up even more, gusting up to 35 mph.
- Watch the roads: Untreated surfaces are the enemy right now.
- Layering is key: One big coat isn't enough; you need base layers to trap heat.
- Pipe protection: If your kitchen sink is on an outside wall, keep the cabinet doors open tonight.
The National Weather Service has been tracking this system as it moves off the coast, and while the "second round" of snow mostly hit areas east of the I-95 corridor, Baltimore city proper still got enough to make things slippery. We're in a pattern now where the cold is "locked in." You won't see a significant thaw for at least a few days.
Real-world impact on your commute
If you're taking the Light Rail or hopping on a bus tomorrow morning, give yourself an extra 15 minutes. It sounds cliché, but the crews are out there salting, and that usually means a slower crawl through the downtown streets.
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The current UV index is 0, so don't worry about the sun helping to melt much of that ice before the morning rush. Most of the moisture from the 61% humidity today is just going to stay stuck to the ground in solid form.
Actionable steps for tonight
Don't wait until tomorrow morning to find your ice scraper. It’s probably buried under a pile of junk in the trunk. Dig it out now. Also, if you’re using space heaters to combat the 24°F low, make sure they’re at least three feet away from anything that can catch fire—curtains, rugs, or that pile of laundry you haven't folded yet.
Stay inside if you can, keep the pets indoors, and keep an eye on the local alerts. The weather in baltimore today was just the opening act for a very long, very cold week.