Maryland’s weather shifts a lot through the year, giving you four pretty distinct seasons. The state sits in the Mid-Atlantic region, where coastal plains run into rolling hills and mountains, so different areas really do get different weather.
Average temperatures in Maryland bounce from the mid-30s in January to around 80 degrees in July. Each year, about 40 inches of precipitation falls, and it’s spread out pretty evenly. The western mountain regions get colder and see more snow, while the eastern coastal areas stay milder. These differences make Maryland’s weather both predictable by season and surprisingly varied by location.
If you want to plan outdoor activities, trips, or just know what to expect, understanding Maryland’s monthly weather can help. From snowy winters in the Appalachians to those sticky summer days by the Chesapeake Bay, every month brings something different to the table.
Overview of Monthly Weather in Maryland
Maryland’s weather patterns stand out because of its humid subtropical climate and varied geography. Summers can get hot and humid, with temperatures often climbing past 80°F. Winters get cold, and if you’re out west, you’ll see frequent snowfall.
Climate Zones Across Maryland
Maryland falls into the humid subtropical climate zone, with no real dry season. The state’s average yearly temperature sits at 58.4°F.
Most of Maryland sticks with this climate, but elevation and nearby water can shift things a bit from place to place.
You’ll notice clear seasonal changes. Summers come with plenty of humidity and temperatures often above 80°F. Winters drop to freezing, and snow is pretty common.
Key Climate Features:
- Humid subtropical climate
- No dry season
- Average elevation: 118 feet above sea level
- Precipitation averages 2.59 inches each month
Key Weather Patterns by Season
Winter (December-February) brings the coldest weather. January usually sits between 24°F and 45°F across the state. Snow shows up regularly, especially out west.
Spring (March-May) starts to warm things up. March in Baltimore gets up to 13°C (55°F), and by May, you’ll see 24°C (75°F) with more humidity.
Summer (June-August) is all heat and humidity. July peaks at 31°C (88°F) in Baltimore, and muggy days aren’t rare—about 17 each month. Thunderstorms roll through often.
Fall (September-November) cools things down and dries them out a bit. September still feels warm at 26°C (79°F), but by November, you’re down to 14°C (57°F).
How Weather Differs by Region
Eastern Maryland gets milder winters thanks to the Chesapeake Bay. Coastal spots see less snow and warmer winter lows.
Western Maryland faces colder winters and more snow. In January, Cumberland averages 4°C colder than Baltimore. The mountains get a lot more snow.
Central Maryland, including Baltimore, falls right in the middle. This area sees typical humid subtropical weather with hot summers and cold winters.
Wind patterns change by region. Baltimore averages 16.4 kph winds in winter. Cumberland, thanks to its terrain, feels calmer with 10.7 kph winds.
Coastal water temperatures swing from 3°C in February to 25°C in August.
Average Temperatures by Month
Maryland has a continental climate with big swings in temperature through the year. Winters bring the coldest days, summers get hot, and spring and fall ease you between the two.
Winter Temperature Ranges
Winter runs from December through February and brings the year’s chilliest weather. January is usually the coldest month.
Baltimore sees winter highs between 6°C and 9°C, with lows from -1°C to 2°C. December highs reach 9°C, lows about 2°C.
January drops to highs of 6°C, lows of -1°C. February starts to warm up a bit, with highs at 8°C and lows at 0°C.
Cumberland, out in western Maryland, gets colder. Highs run from 4°C to 6°C, lows between -4°C and -2°C.
In January, Cumberland hits highs of just 4°C, lows of -4°C. December and February look about the same, with highs at 6°C.
Western Maryland stays 2-3 degrees colder than the east. Snow is pretty common during these months, especially in Cumberland and the mountains.
Spring Temperature Ranges
Spring warms things up from March through May. You can feel winter fading fast.
March in Baltimore brings highs of 13°C, lows of 4°C. Cumberland is close, with highs at 12°C and lows at 1°C.
April gets nicer. Baltimore climbs to highs of 19°C, lows of 10°C.
Cumberland follows with April highs of 18°C and lows of 6°C. The temperature gap between regions shrinks as spring rolls on.
May finishes the warming trend. Baltimore hits highs of 24°C, lows of 15°C.
Cumberland enjoys highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C in May. Late spring is pretty much perfect for getting outside.
By early May, frost risk is gone in most places.
Summer Temperature Ranges
Summer brings the heat from June through August. July is usually the hottest month.
June starts things off with Baltimore at highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Cumberland gets similar highs—28°C—but nighttime lows are cooler at 15°C.
July is the real scorcher. Baltimore hits 31°C during the day, with warm nights at 23°C.
Cumberland gets highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C in July. The difference between cities stays steady.
August keeps things hot. Baltimore records highs of 30°C, lows of 22°C.
Cumberland reaches 29°C during the day and 17°C at night. Humidity often makes it feel even hotter.
Summer nights rarely dip below 15°C. Air conditioning? Pretty much a must.
Fall Temperature Ranges
Fall cools things down from September through November. It’s a great time before winter sets in.
September starts the cooldown. Baltimore records highs of 26°C, lows of 18°C. Cumberland gets highs of 25°C, lows of 13°C.
October brings that classic fall feel. Baltimore drops to highs of 20°C, lows of 12°C.
Cumberland sees October highs of 19°C, lows of 7°C. Fall foliage really pops now.
November leans toward winter. Baltimore gets highs of 14°C, lows of 6°C.
Cumberland faces highs of 12°C, lows of 2°C in November. Frost can show up by late November.
Fall’s great for hiking and being outdoors. The difference between day and night temps gets bigger.
Precipitation Trends Throughout the Year
Maryland picks up 40-45 inches of precipitation each year, and the pattern shifts with the seasons. Summer is usually the wettest time, while late fall and early winter dry out.
Monthly Rainfall Patterns
Rain in Maryland follows a pretty clear pattern. Spring (March-May) brings 3-4 inches a month. That’s enough to keep farms going and groundwater topped up.
Summer gets the heaviest rain. June through August averages 4-5 inches monthly. Thunderstorms are common, and they can dump a lot of rain fast.
Fall dries out from September through November. September still gets about 3-4 inches, but October and November drop to 2-3 inches. That’s helpful for harvest time.
Winter is the driest stretch. December through February usually see 2-3 inches a month. In the north and west, a lot of that comes as snow.
Snowfall Expectations
Snowfall in Maryland changes a lot depending on where you are. Western Maryland gets the most—up to 20-40 inches per year, especially near the Appalachians.
Central Maryland, like Baltimore, usually gets 10-20 inches a year. Snow mostly falls from December through March, with January and February seeing the biggest storms.
Southern and Eastern Maryland don’t see much snow. The Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore average 5-15 inches yearly, and the coast stays warmer thanks to the ocean.
Snow often mixes with rain or sleet. Sometimes, ice storms roll in and really mess with travel and power.
Humidity Fluctuations
Maryland deals with high humidity most of the year. Summer is the stickiest, from June through August. Relative humidity goes over 70% a lot.
The Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean keep things moist, especially along the coast. Foggy mornings are common near the water.
Winter dries out the air. December through February have the lowest humidity, and heating systems make it even drier indoors.
Spring and fall feel more comfortable. Humidity rises through spring and falls again as autumn comes.
Sunrise, Sunset, and Daylight Hours
Daylight in Maryland changes a lot through the year. Summer days stretch close to 15 hours, while winter days can shrink to about 9.5 hours. Sunrise and sunset times shift by hours as seasons change.
Changing Daylengths Across the Months
Maryland’s daylight hours swing pretty widely. In July, Baltimore gets about 14 hours and 56 minutes of daylight at the start of the month.
By the end of July, you lose about 39 minutes of daylight, dropping to 14 hours and 16 minutes.
December brings the shortest days—sometimes just 9.5 hours from sunrise to sunset.
June offers the longest days, with up to 15 hours of sunlight. Spring and fall show a steady shift as days get longer or shorter.
Earth’s tilt and orbit make all this happen. The angle of sunlight changes through the year.
Monthly Sunrise and Sunset Times
Sunrise and sunset times aren’t the same everywhere in Maryland. Baltimore usually sees sunrise around 6:02 AM and sunset at 8:24 PM in summer.
Rockville gets sunrise at 6:05 AM and sunset at 8:25 PM. Out west in Frederick, sunsets run a little later, around 8:27 PM.
Winter means earlier sunsets and later sunrises. The earliest sunset hits around December 7 at 4:44 PM in many spots.
Daylight saving time shifts things from March through November, adding an extra hour of evening light.
Cities in the east see sunrise 2-3 minutes earlier than those out west. That’s just because Maryland stretches about 250 miles east to west.
Weather Extremes and Notable Records
Maryland has seen some wild temperature swings and big weather events over the years. The highest temperature hit 109°F (43°C), and the lowest dropped to -40°F (-40°C).
Record Highs and Lows
Maryland’s hottest day happened on July 10, 1936, when Cumberland and Frederick both hit 109°F (43°C). That was during the infamous Dust Bowl, which scorched much of the country.
Baltimore’s record high is 107°F (42°C), also set on July 10, 1936. The city’s heat island effect often bumps temperatures up compared to nearby areas.
The coldest temperature reached -40°F (-40°C) on January 13, 1912, in Oakland, Garrett County. The mountains out west really do get the harshest winters.
Notable Temperature Records:
- Highest: 109°F (43°C) – Cumberland/Frederick, July 10, 1936
- Lowest: -40°F (-40°C) – Oakland, January 13, 1912
- Baltimore High: 107°F (42°C) – July 10, 1936
Unusual Weather Events
Back in 2018, Catonsville, Maryland, got absolutely drenched—84.56 inches of rain, a new state record. The State Climate Extremes Committee checked the numbers and made it official in 2019, and for the first time, they recognized a reading from a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow station.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes sometimes roll through the state. Maryland usually sees about 8-10 tornadoes each year, but most of them are pretty weak.
Winter storms can dump a lot of snow across Maryland. The mountains out west usually get hit hardest, and sometimes they see more than 30 inches in a single storm.
Tropical systems bring their own set of problems. Hurricane Agnes in 1972 flooded huge areas, and Hurricane Isabel in 2003 knocked out power and caused storm surge damage along the coast.
Best Times to Experience Maryland’s Weather
Spring and fall really shine in Maryland. Temperatures usually sit between 50-75°F, and the humidity stays low.
Summer gets warm, which is great if you’re heading to the beach. Winter’s more for indoor stuff or maybe snow sports if you’re lucky.
Most Comfortable Months
May and October are probably the nicest months to be in Maryland. May runs from 55-75°F, and everything’s blooming. October feels just as nice, with 50-70°F and those classic fall colors.
April and September aren’t bad either. April brings spring temps (45-68°F) and sometimes a bit of rain. September stays warm—think 60-80°F—but humidity drops off.
These four months usually mean:
- Moderate temperatures that make outdoor stuff enjoyable
- Lower humidity than what you get in summer
- Fewer extreme weather headaches
- Good sleeping weather without cranking the heat or AC
Western Maryland tends to run cooler during these months. The coast hangs onto a bit more warmth year-round.
Seasonal Recommendations for Travelers
Spring (March-May) brings mild weather, which is just right for hiking or wandering around town. Cherry blossoms pop up in March, and honestly, they’re worth seeing at least once.
Temperatures start chilly, somewhere around 35-58°F in March, but by May, it can get up to 75°F. You might want to pack layers.
Summer (June-August) means it’s finally beach season. Temperatures climb to 70-90°F, and July, well, that’s usually the hottest.
Humidity can get pretty intense, so if you want to stay comfortable, stick to the coast.
Fall (September-November) is all about those incredible leaves. October is prime time for color, if you’re into that.
Temperatures cool down as the months go by, from 60-80°F in September to a chillier 40-60°F by November.
Winter (December-February) feels perfect for exploring museums or checking out city life. January’s usually the coldest, with temperatures between 24-45°F.
If you love snow, head out west since they get more of it than the coast does.
Maryland’s weather changes a lot from season to season, so there’s always something different to do depending on when you visit.