Maryland, 2022

Ice Storm in Maryland, December 14 to 15, 2022

December 14 to 15, 2022 · NWS LWX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

An area of low pressure passed by to the west with another area of low pressure developing near the Chesapeake Bay. This resulted in southeasterly winds to overrun colder air near the surface and a prolonged wintry mix/freezing rain event across the Allegheny and Potomac Highlands where temperatures were just below freezing.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

An area of low pressure passed by to the west with another area of low pressure developing near the Chesapeake Bay. This resulted in southeasterly winds to overrun colder air near the surface and a prolonged wintry mix/freezing rain event across the Allegheny and Potomac Highlands where temperatures were just below freezing. Ice accumulations totaled one quarter to three quarters of an inch. Sleet accumulations totaled upwards of 2 as well. This led to numerous accidents, downed trees and power lines which resulted in isolated power outages.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 14, 2:55 PM EST, 4 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 14, 2:55 PM EST, 4 hours 5 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 14, 6:59 PM EST, 1 minute before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Garrett

When
December 14, 7:00 PM EST to December 15, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Garrett forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Garrett EM reported significant ice accretion resulting in numerous accidents, downed trees and power lines, and power outages throughout the county.

Ice Storm, Extreme Western Allegany

When
December 14, 7:00 PM EST to December 15, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Extreme Western Allegany forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
39.622, -78.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

MD SHA reported significant ice accretion resulting in numerous accidents, downed trees and power lines, and isolated power outages throughout the county.

Ice Storm, Central and Eastern Allegany

When
December 14, 10:00 PM EST to December 15, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Central and Eastern Allegany forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
39.622, -78.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

MD SHA reported significant ice accretion resulting in numerous accidents, downed trees and power lines, and isolated power outages throughout the county.

Ice Storm, Washington

When
December 15, 5:51 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported significant ice accretion of resulting in numerous accidents, downed trees and power lines, and isolated power outages throughout the county.

Ice Storm, Frederick

When
December 15, 5:51 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Frederick forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported significant ice accretion resulting in numerous accidents, downed trees and power lines, and isolated power outages throughout the northern portion of the county.

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 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, December 2022

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: 1060765, 1060766, 1060767, 1060768, 1060769.