A potent area of low pressure was located over the Tennessee Valley on the morning of Wednesday, January 26th. The warm front associated with the low triggered a period of mixed precipitation early Wednesday morning. There was enough warm air behind the warm front for precipitation to fall in the form of light rain and drizzle later in the morning into the afternoon.
The low passed through the area late in the afternoon into the evening. A burst of heavier precipitation was associated with the low and at the same time colder air was drawn into the system. This caused a period of heavy snow to bring significant snow accumulation to the area in a short period of time. The heavy snow which fell around the evening rush hour caused numerous traffic accidents and there were also numerous power outages due to the heavy snow weighing on trees and power lines. Stranded vehicles were also reported around the Baltimore metropolitan area due to the snow.

Winter Weather in CARROLL, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Public

Snowfall totaled up to 3.0 inches near Sykesville and 2.9 inches near Winfield.

Winter Weather in NORTHERN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall totaled up to 2.8 inches near Cockeysville.

Winter Weather in HARFORD, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between two and four inches across the county.

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between two and four inches across the southern portion of the county.

Winter Weather in HOWARD, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between two and three inches across the county.

Winter Weather in MONTGOMERY, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall averaged between one and two inches across the county.

Winter Weather in ANNE ARUNDEL, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 03:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall totaled up to 2.0 inches near Fort Meade.

Winter Weather in CALVERT, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged around three to five inches across the county.

Winter Weather in ST. MARY'S, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall averaged between one and two inches across the county.

Winter Weather in CHARLES, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall averaged between three and five inches across the county. Snowfall totaled up to 3.7 inches near Waldorf and 5.0 inches near Bryans Road.

Winter Storm in EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 13:00:00 to 27-JAN-11 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totaled up to 8.0 inches near Frostburg and 10.0 inches near Eckhart Mines.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 13:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between eight and ten inches across the central and eastern portions of Allegany County.

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 13:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between eight and 10 inches across the county.

Winter Storm in FREDERICK, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 15:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totaled up to 10 inches near Jefferson and 11.2 inches near Point of Rocks.

Winter Storm in CARROLL, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 15:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totaled up to 9.3 inches near Millers.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nine inches of snow was received in Hunt Valley.

Winter Storm in HARFORD, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totaled up to eight inches near Norrisville.

Winter Storm in HOWARD, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totaled up to 8.9 inches near Simpsonville.

Winter Storm in MONTGOMERY, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totaled up to 8.5 inches near Montgomery Village. Snowfall averaged between six and ten inches across the rest of the county.

Winter Storm in ANNE ARUNDEL, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between four and six inches across the county. Snowfall totaled up to 5.2 inches near South Gate and 6.0 inches near Lothian.

Winter Storm in PRINCE GEORGES, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall totaled up to 7.0 inches near Forest Heights. A report of 7.0 inches of snow was received from near Camp Springs.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
From 26-JAN-11 16:00:00 to 26-JAN-11 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall averaged between eight and ten inches across southern Baltimore County. Many motorists were stranded in the city of Baltimore due a burst of heavy snow in a short period of time.