MARYLAND — Historical weather data from the National Weather Service confirms that measurable snowfall in Maryland during February is a regular part of the state’s winter climate, although amounts can vary widely from year to year.
February tends to be one of the snowiest months in much of Maryland. For example, climatological records for the Baltimore area show that February typically averages about 8 inches of snow, making it the month with the highest average snowfall in that region. Maryland often records measurable snow five months of the year — November through March — and historically there has never been a winter without recorded snow since weather records began in the late 1800s.
Statewide, average seasonal snowfall also varies significantly from west to east. Along the coastal Eastern Shore, average annual snowfall may be as little as 8 to 10 inches, while in higher elevations such as Garrett County in western Maryland annual totals can exceed 80 inches. This geographic variation reflects how elevation and distance from the Atlantic Ocean influence winter precipitation types and amounts.
Climatology data also show that February snowfall totals in Maryland can range more broadly than average figures imply. While typical February snow totals hover around single-digit amounts in central and eastern parts of the state, historical events include major snowstorms in February with significantly higher accumulations.
For instance, long-term records from the Baltimore area include February snow events with more than a foot of snow — and even storms in records going back to the late 1800s show individual February events with double-digit snow totals.
In terms of daily snowfall averages, detailed climate summaries for parts of Maryland show that measurable snow — defined as snowfall of 0.1 inches or more — occurs regularly in February. In places such as Maryland City, the average sliding 31-day snowfall in February can exceed 7 inches in typical years, with periods of measurable accumulation throughout much of the month.
Annual and monthly climate averages also indicate that February remains a month with a meaningful probability of precipitation falling as snow. Localized weather data show that while overall precipitation chances in February include both rain and snow, measurable snowfall continues to occur as part of the region’s winter weather pattern.
Taken together, Maryland’s climate record shows that measurable snowfall in February is not only possible but historically common, particularly in central and northern parts of the state. Although the exact amounts vary greatly each year, the historical record clearly supports the occurrence of measurable snow during this month as a normal aspect of Maryland’s winter climate.
