Maryland reports at least 15 cold-related deaths after January 2026 snowstorm
At least 15 cold-related deaths were reported in Maryland in the two weeks after a historic winter storm affected the United States in late January 2026.
Snow in Boston on January 26, 2026. Credit: City of Boston
At least 15 people died from cold-related reasons across Maryland in the first two weeks after the historic winter storm affected the state in late January 2026, according to state health data.
At least four people died in Baltimore City, while 3 died in Baltimore County. Meanwhile, two people died in each of Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Washington Counties. One person died in Anne Arundel County and Charles County each.
The tolls are based on a surveillance report issued by the Maryland Department of Health; however, official confirmation of the exact causes and their relation to the storm remains pending.
Because the death counts are based on when the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner can conduct autopsies, the totals sometimes bleed into the following week’s report. But MDH spokesperson David McCallister confirmed that of the 46 cold-related deaths this season, 11 occurred between the January 24 snowstorm and February 7, according to the Baltimore Sun.
State data show that during the 2025-26 cold season, 29 of the 46 people who died were seniors, and 31 were men.
Of those who died, approximately 15% were presumed to be homeless.
The historic storm claimed over 136 lives across the country, as of current reports, including deaths from indirect impacts in over 20 states.
New York City officials confirmed 18 cold-related deaths following the storm due to sustained subfreezing temperatures across the metropolitan area.
The storm developed over the central United States on January 23 and moved eastward toward the Atlantic Coast by January 26, producing heavy snow, extensive ice accumulation, and widespread travel disruption. According to the Weather Prediction Center, the system’s coastal low reached a minimum central pressure of 996 hPa south of Cape Cod at 03:00 EST (08:00 UTC) on January 26 before moving offshore.
The severe weather resulted in more than 1 000 crashes and other traffic-related accidents nationwide. Over 12 000 flights were also cancelled between January 23 and 25, and the number had crossed over 20 000 by January 26. This made it the largest flight disruption in the United States since COVID-19.
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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