Honestly, if you think Annapolis just shuts down when the mercury drops, you’ve never seen the City Dock during a mid-January "blow." It’s raw. It’s salty. And it’s surprisingly busy. This week, specifically the stretch starting Saturday, January 17, 2026, is shaping up to be a classic Maryland mix of "wear a parka" and "maybe just a light fleece" within the same 48-hour window.
Basically, the weather forecast for annapolis maryland is currently being dictated by a series of arctic pulses fighting with the relatively warmer waters of the Chesapeake Bay. You’ve got this weird microclimate where the city can be shivering in the 20s while the water is still holding onto enough residual heat to turn a predicted snowstorm into a slushy, rainy mess.
The Immediate Outlook: Slush, Wind, and Small Crafts
Saturday morning is the pivot point. If you’re planning on being near the water, keep in mind there’s a Small Craft Advisory in effect through 4:00 PM. We’re looking at southwest winds around 15 to 20 knots with gusts that could easily hit 30. That’s enough to make the harbor chop pretty miserable for anyone in a small boat.
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Temperature-wise, Saturday is the "warm" outlier with a high of about 45°F. But don't let that fool you. An early band of snow is expected to move through the region before 10:00 AM. For us in Annapolis, it’ll likely start as a slushy mix before changing over to straight rain by the afternoon as that high of 45°F kicks in.
Sunday, January 18, shifts the vibe entirely. The high drops back to 36°F, and there’s a 30% chance of light snow as a southern storm tracks off the coast. It’s that annoying kind of snow—the "will it stick or just make the sidewalk slippery?" kind.
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Deep Freeze Mid-Week
The real story for the weather forecast for annapolis maryland hits on Tuesday, January 20. This is when the arctic air truly settles in.
- Tuesday’s High: 26°F
- Tuesday’s Low: 12°F
- Condition: Brutally sunny (the kind that looks warm through a window but bites your face the second you step outside).
Wednesday isn't much better, with a low of 13°F. If you have pipes that are prone to freezing in older Eastport homes, this is the window where you need to be dripping those faucets. Historically, January is the coldest month here, with average lows around 27°F, but hitting 12°F is a solid 15 degrees below the norm. It’s legit cold.
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The Light at the End of the Tunnel
By the time we hit next Saturday, January 24, 2026, things stabilize slightly. The forecast calls for a high of 36°F and a low of 28°F under partly sunny skies. The northwest wind will still be kicking at about 17 mph, so that wind chill is going to keep it feeling like the mid-20s.
Wait, did you know we’re actually gaining daylight? Even though it’s freezing, we’re gaining about a minute and a half of sun every day now. By the end of the month, the sun won't set until about 5:25 PM. It’s a small victory, but in the middle of a Maryland winter, we take what we can get.
Actionable Tips for the Week Ahead
- Check the Tides: High winds from the south and east often push Bay water into City Dock. If you’re parked in the lower lots Saturday morning, keep an eye on the flood sensors.
- Layer Like a Pro: With a 20-degree swing between Saturday and Tuesday, don't pack away the heavy wool just because it feels "mild" this weekend.
- Boat Prep: If you’re one of the year-rounders at a marina like South Annapolis Yacht Centre, double-check your lines before the Sunday night wind shift to the northwest.
- Watch the Ice: With lows hitting 12°F Tuesday night, any standing water from Saturday’s rain will be a skating rink by Wednesday morning.
Stay warm out there. The weather forecast for annapolis maryland is nothing if not unpredictable, but at least the humidity stays low when it's this cold—around 58% by next weekend. That’s a silver lining, right?