Record-breaking water temperatures at the Potomac River on July 4, 2026, are being linked to a localized fish kill in Maryland. The water temperatures reached a record high of 34.7°C (94.4°F) near Little Falls amid a record-breaking heatwave. Significant fish mortality was reported along a stretch of the river between White’s Ferry and Violette’s Lock soon after.
A Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) for severe thunderstorms has been issued across parts of the Mid-Atlantic United States for Monday, March 16, 2026, as a powerful multi-hazard storm threatens over 100 million people across the U.S. Fast-moving storms capable of producing damaging winds and a few strong tornadoes are forecast to develop from the Carolinas into Virginia and Maryland during the afternoon and evening hours. A Moderate Risk is an unusually high severe weather category for the Mid-Atlantic and is not issued often for this region. The National Weather Service office serving the Washington, D.C. area described the setup as a “quite rare Day 2 Moderate Risk area” ahead of the event.
The District Department of Health lifted a recreational advisory for the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on March 2, 2026, after three weeks of monitoring showed bacterial levels had returned to typical ranges following the January 19 collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line. Repair operations advanced the following day as crews prepared the damaged pipe for structural reinforcement while environmental restoration continues in the affected section of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
Two people were killed and another seriously injured after a large tree fell onto a moving vehicle in Calvert County, Maryland, at approximately 16:40 LT on February 22, 2026, during a powerful Nor’easter affecting the region. The incident occurred on Solomons Island Road (Route 2) near Aspen Woods Drive in Sunderland. The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and the third occupant was transported to a medical facility in critical condition.
A section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line failed on January 19, 2026, in Montgomery County, Maryland, releasing more than 920 million liters (243 million gallons) of untreated wastewater into the Potomac River. By volume, the incident ranks among the largest documented municipal wastewater spills in U.S. history. Elevated bacterial concentrations prompted recreational advisories and shellfish closures while emergency bypass operations continued into mid-February.
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.
Blizzard warning have been issued with snowfall totals of up to 30 cm (12 inches) being forecast across the high western slopes along with gusts of 80 km/h (50 mph) across multiple mountain counties. The warnings are in effect for parts of West Virginia, western Maryland, and western Virginia from 10:00 EST Wednesday, December 10, 2025 to 10:00 EST Thursday, December 11.
More than 100 flood-related emergency calls were reported in Montgomery County, Maryland, on Saturday evening, July 19, 2025, after thunderstorms brought up to 127 mm (5 inches) of rain in less than two hours, prompting a Flash Flood Emergency from the National Weather Service.
A 12-year-old was found deceased in Albemarle County, Virginia, after flash floods struck parts of the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, prompting Flash Flood Emergencies in multiple counties and evacuations in areas including Westernport, Maryland.
A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for parts of western Maryland on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, as floods forced over 200 people to evacuate three schools in Allegany County. Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy in Albemarle County, Virginia, was reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters from a nearby creek.
