MARYLAND — A developing storm system moving across the western United States could bring accumulating snow to parts of Maryland late Sunday into Monday, but forecasters say the outcome will depend heavily on the storm’s track and the availability of cold air.
According to AccuWeather meteorologists, the system is expected to move south along the West Coast on Thursday, cross the Rockies on Friday and track through the central United States on Saturday before approaching the East Coast late in the weekend.
Weather experts say several factors must align for Maryland to see significant snowfall.
“One significant issue is the lack of cold air in place at the time the storm develops,”AccuWeather forecasters noted.
Cold air is critical because most precipitation begins as snow high in the atmosphere during winter. If temperatures are too warm near the ground, snowflakes can melt into rain before reaching the surface.
The storm’s exact path will also determine impacts across Maryland.
If the system tracks inland west of the Appalachian Mountains, it could pull warmer air into the Interstate 95 corridor, bringing mainly rain to Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington suburbs. In that scenario, any snow would likely be limited to western Maryland, including higher elevations.
However, if the storm tracks just off the Atlantic coastline, colder air could remain in place long enough to allow snow to accumulate, particularly north and west of I-95. That setup would increase the risk of measurable snowfall from central Maryland to the eastern shore.
Forecasters are also monitoring the possibility of a narrow band of heavier precipitation forming as the storm strengthens. Under certain conditions, this feature — sometimes called a norlun trough — can produce a localized stripe of heavy snow, though such developments are uncommon and difficult to predict far in advance.
Before the potential Sunday-to-Monday system arrives, additional rounds of rain, snow and mixed precipitation are expected across parts of the Midwest and Northeast this week, which could influence ground temperatures and road conditions heading into the weekend.
Meteorologists emphasize that confidence in snowfall amounts for Maryland remains low at this time. Residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts through the week as the storm’s path and temperature profile become clearer.
