Maryland, 2015

Winter Weather in Maryland, January 18, 2015

January 18, 2015 · NWS LWX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Areas of freezing rain, resulting in hazardous road conditions, occurred the morning of the 18th. High pressure over the northeast slowly retreated ahead of an approaching low pressure system, keeping northeast flow over the Mid-Atlantic for a good portion of the night on the 17th and allowing for surface temperatures to drop into the 20s.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
2
Injuries
9
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

Areas of freezing rain, resulting in hazardous road conditions, occurred the morning of the 18th. High pressure over the northeast slowly retreated ahead of an approaching low pressure system, keeping northeast flow over the Mid-Atlantic for a good portion of the night on the 17th and allowing for surface temperatures to drop into the 20s. As the high moved offshore, warm air advection with an increasing low level jet overrode the colder air at the surface, producing light rain along the I-95 corridor, with pockets of freezing rain especially along bridges and overpasses.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Central and Southeast Howard

When
January 18, 6:28 AM EST to 11:03 AM EST
Where
Central and Southeast Howard forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.251, -76.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 49 car pile up occurred near the intersection of U.S Highway 40 and Chestnut Hill Dr. The accident was reported on the down-hill slope on US 40 as cars were driving towards the Patapsco River. Traffic was shut down in both directions as a result, with roads opening after 1 pm. The accident occurred around 8:45 am. Reported by the Baltimore Sun.

Another accident occurred near the intersection of Highway 40 and Interstate 70, resulting in a 30 car pile. Roads were closed till around 10:30 am.

Around a trace of ice was reported.

Winter Weather, Northwest Harford

When
January 18, 6:28 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Harford forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.536, -76.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An accident occurred near the intersection of Route 23 and High Point Rd in Forest Hill. The accident was a result of a head-on collision of two cars, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. One of the cars hit a patch of black ice, causing it to cross the median and collide with the on coming car.

|Around a trace of ice was reported.

Winter Weather, Southern Baltimore

When
January 18, 6:28 AM EST to 11:03 AM EST
Where
Southern Baltimore forecast zone
Injuries
6 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.367, -76.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An accident involving a Maryland Transit Administration bus was reported on Rocklyn Ave near Milford Mills. Reported by the Baltimore Sun. Six people were sent to the hospital as a result.

All lanes of I-83 were reported closed during the morning hours near the Northern Parkway.

|Around a trace of ice was reported.

Winter Weather, Southeast Harford

When
January 18, 6:28 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Harford forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.536, -76.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple accidents were reported around the county, resulting in road closures including: Franklinville Road is closed after a vehicle went into a guardrail after 11 a.m.; Route 1 (south) at Reckord Road was closed due to ice; Route 165 at Baltimore County line; MD Route 543 between Route 22 and Thomas Run Road; Route 543 at Southampton Road.

|Around a trace of ice was reported.

Winter Weather, Northern Baltimore

When
January 18, 6:28 AM EST to 1:03 PM EST
Where
Northern Baltimore forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.443, -76.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple accidents were reported across the county resulting in road closures including: MD Route 136, especially near Northern Dancer; Bel Air Bypass.

A trained spotter reported icy conditions near the intersection of Loch Raven Reservoir and Morgan Mill Rd.

Around a trace of ice was reported.

Winter Weather, Northwest Howard

When
January 18, 6:28 AM EST to 11:03 AM EST
Where
Northwest Howard forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.251, -76.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple accidents were reported around the county, resulting in road closures.

Around a trace of ice was reported.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Winter Weather, Northwest Harford2015-01-1849MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerDirect
Winter Weather, Southeast Harford2015-01-1849MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerDirect

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maryland in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, January 2015

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 598138, 598140, 598142, 598143, 598144, 598145.