Maryland, 1996

Ice Storm in Maryland, March 29, 1996

March 29, 1996 · NWS LWX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A strong surface high pressure area over New England pushed a shallow layer of subfreezing air into the northern tier of Maryland late on the 28th. An inverted trough of low pressure west of the Appalachians promoted overrunning of warm moist air, which eventually produced light to moderate precipitation.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$150,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

A strong surface high pressure area over New England pushed a shallow layer of subfreezing air into the northern tier of Maryland late on the 28th. An inverted trough of low pressure west of the Appalachians promoted overrunning of warm moist air, which eventually produced light to moderate precipitation. Most of the precipitation fell as light rain on the 28th. However, temperatures between 500 and 2000 feet were as low as 28°F during the evening of the 28th. A band of moderate rain moved through early on the 29th, freezing on contact with surfaces in this layer.Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down at these elevations in north central Maryland early on the 29th. BG&E reported over 35,000 customers without power during the entire event, with the most affected areas in Carroll Co (MDZ005) early on the 29th. Potomac Edison reported an additional 3300 customers without power in Mt Airy (southern Carroll Co). Ice accretions generally ranged from 1/4 to 3/4".

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Washington

When
March 29, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Frederick

When
March 29, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Frederick forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Carroll

When
March 29, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
39.563, -77.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Northern Baltimore

When
March 29, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Northern Baltimore forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
39.443, -76.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maryland in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, March 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5539197, 5539198, 5539199, 5539200.