Honestly, if you've lived in Baltimore for more than a week, you know the drill. One day you’re walking through Fells Point in a light hoodie, and the next, you’re scraping a thick sheet of ice off your windshield while the wind off the Patapsco tries to steal your soul. It’s chaotic. It’s Maryland.
Looking at the extended weather forecast Baltimore MD for the rest of January 2026, we are basically entering a "revolving door" of Arctic air.
Right now, we are sitting in a weirdly humid stretch. The humidity is maxed out at 99%, and we’ve got light showers keeping everything damp and grey. But don't let that fool you. The "January Thaw" we just had? It's officially over. The polar vortex is sending some chilly reminders our way, and the upcoming week looks like a rollercoaster that only goes down.
The Immediate Outlook: Shifting from Slush to Shivers
Today, Sunday, January 18, is kinda the transition point. We’re looking at a high of 36°F with a 46% chance of snow during the day. It’s mostly cloudy, but the real story is what happens when the sun goes down. The clouds clear out, and the temperature drops to a bone-chilling 24°F.
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Monday stays sunny but stays cold, topping out at 39°F. Then Tuesday hits like a ton of bricks. We’re talking a high of only 25°F and a low of 16°F. If you haven't dripped your pipes yet, Tuesday night is the time to start.
Here is the quick prose breakdown of the next few days:
- Wednesday: A slight "warm-up" to 37°F, though the clouds start rolling back in by evening.
- Thursday: This is your "errand day." It’ll be the warmest of the week at 45°F and sunny.
- Friday: Back to the 30s with mostly cloudy skies. It’s basically prep time for the weekend.
The Big Snow Question: Late January Surprises
Everyone wants to know if we’re actually going to get a "real" snow. You know, the kind that shuts down 695 and sends everyone to the grocery store for milk and bread like it’s the apocalypse.
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The data suggests we need to keep an eye on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26. We’re seeing a significant shift here. Saturday starts cloudy and cold (high of 28°F), but by Sunday, the forecast calls for snow showers and light snow with a low of 13°F.
Monday, January 26, looks like the main event. There is a 70% chance of snow during the day with 17 mph winds coming out of the northwest. When you pair those winds with a high of 25°F, it’s going to feel significantly colder. This matches up with what experts like Justin Berk and the NOAA Climate Prediction Center have been hinting at: a "bookend" winter where the late-season activity makes up for a quiet start.
Why This Winter Feels So Weird
We are technically in a weak La Niña year. Normally, that means Baltimore stays warmer and drier. But this year isn't "typical."
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The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is currently moving into phases that favor anomalous cold for the Eastern U.S. Basically, the atmosphere is "stuck" in a pattern that allows the polar vortex to wobble and dump Arctic air right on top of the Mid-Atlantic. This is why, despite the general trend of warmer winters over the last 15 years, we are still seeing these sharp, bitter snaps.
Historically, January in Baltimore averages a high of 39°F. We are going to be well below that for most of the next ten days. In fact, by Wednesday, January 28, the high is projected to be only 20°F.
Actionable Next Steps for Baltimoreans
- Check your outdoor Spigots: With lows hitting 12°F and 13°F by the end of next week, any trapped water will freeze and crack your pipes.
- Salt the Sidewalks Early: Since we have high humidity (99%) followed by a flash freeze on Tuesday, black ice is going to be a major issue on side streets in neighborhoods like Canton or Hampden.
- Monitor the Monday (1/26) System: This 70% snow chance is the highest we’ve seen in the extended outlook. If you have travel plans, keep an eye on that Monday morning window.
- Heating Maintenance: If your furnace has been making "that noise," get it checked before the 20°F highs hit next Wednesday.
The rest of the month isn't about deep freezes that last forever; it's about these sharp, 48-hour stabs of Arctic air. Stay warm, keep the scrapers handy, and maybe buy that extra loaf of bread just in case.