With one dusting of snow already under the Baltimore region’s belt, there’s plenty of time for more snow and ice this winter season.

The meteorological start of winter was Dec. 1, and the astronomical winter begins Dec. 21, said Chesnea Skeen, a meteorologist with the Baltimore/Washington office of the National Weather Service. This weekend is expected to see much colder temperatures as an arctic cold front moves into the region.

As the cold front approaches Friday, there will be light rain and snow flurries that likely will not accumulate, said Erik Taylor, a NWS meteorologist.

View post on X

Over the weekend temperatures will be chilly, he said, and on Saturday there will be wind gusts as strong as 35 mph, making it feel like the temperature is in the teens and 20s through the afternoon and evening.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Low temperatures in the 20s to 30s will remain in the region through Monday night, Taylor said.

Overall, this winter is expected to have above normal temperatures — which in December means the mid-40s — in the Baltimore region and very near normal precipitation levels, Skeen said.

But in the case of snow, rain, ice, wind, sleet and other harsh conditions this winter, here are ways to prepare and places to get emergency alerts for Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties.

How to prepare your home and car

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government agencies offer several tips for how to prepare homes for cold and other winter weather, including:

  • Insulate the walls and attic in your home.
  • Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows in your home.
  • Get your chimney or flue inspected each year.
  • Install a smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure the batteries are working.

When it comes to vehicles, officials suggest making a winter emergency kit to keep in your car. The kit can include jumper cables, flares or reflective triangles, ice scraper, car cell phone charger, cat litter or sand (for better tire traction), a blanket and water. The Maryland Department of Health has a complete checklist online. Other tips to prepare cars for winter weather include:

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

  • Check antifreeze levels on your vehicle.
  • Keep your gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank.
  • Replace worn tires and check the tire air pressure.
  • If stuck in a traffic jam or your car becomes disabled, stay with your vehicle and run the engine and heater for short intervals. You should crack a window to avoid carbon monoxide buildup and listen to the radio for emergency information.

How to stay warm in cold weather and prevent cold-related illness

When it comes to keeping yourself warm and preventing cold-related illness, the CDC suggests wearing lots of layers and not overdoing it if shoveling snow or playing outside. Some other tips:

  • Try to stay indoors during a winter storm or in extreme cold, but if you must go outside, make sure to wear a hat; a water-resistant coat; mittens or gloves; a scarf or knit mask that covers your face and mouth; two to three layers of loose-fitting clothes; and water-resistant boots.
  • To protect your eyes, lips, skin, neck and face, wear sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm.
  • Avoid getting wet to prevent hypothermia.
  • Drink warm beverages or broth to help maintain body temperature and eat well-balanced meals.

How to get weather and emergency alerts in your county

Howard County residents can sign up for their community’s warning system through the Wireless Emergency Alerts or the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards. Residents can also follow Howard County government on Facebook and X, and through an email service.

Baltimore County residents can sign up for emergency alerts through BaltCo Alert using their address and contact information. Alerts will include emergencies such as evacuations, shelter-in-place notices or severe weather information.

There are no weather sirens in Baltimore County, so during an emergency the county will share information on X on the @BaltCoEmergency account, the @BaltCoFire account and the Fire News blog on the county website.

Anne Arundel County has a mass notification system called Alert Anne Arundel that will send alerts to phones or emails. Residents can sign up online.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Warming centers in the counties

Howard County has a newly expanded cold weather shelter operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention that has 71 beds. The new beds are available through the county’s cold weather shelter program, which provides housing through March 28.

There is a crisis line at 410-531-6677 and the shelter’s address is 6700 Freetown Road in Columbia.

Baltimore County has freezing weather shelters for people without housing when the temperatures drop. County residents seeking temporary shelter are encouraged to call 410-887-8463. Some locations are:

  • Eastern Family Resource Center at 9150 Franklin Square Drive in Rosedale, Maryland. The entrance in the rear door of the building.
  • Community Health Center at 1811 Woodlawn Drive in Woodlawn, Maryland. The entrance is located on the left side of the building, underneath the library.

Anne Arundel has warming centers that offer heat, water and restrooms. There is a crisis warmline available at (410) 768-5522 for people who need shelter or special accommodations. Below are a few warming stations, and a complete list is available online.

  • Police Department district stations: Eastern District at 204 Pasadena Road in Pasadena, and the Western District at 8273 Telegraph Road in Odenton.
  • Senior activity center community rooms, including the Annapolis Senior Activity Center at 119 South Villa Ave., and the Pascal Senior Activity Center at 125 Dorsey Road in Glen Burnie.
  • Anne Arundel County public libraries, including locations at 5940 Deale-Churchton Road in Deale and 400 Shipley Road in Linthicum.

The Maryland Department of Health also has a list of local warming centers across the state.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Where to find more emergency preparedness info

More emergency preparedness information can be found on through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Ready.gov and the Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Preparedness and Response.

Each county’s website also has more information for winter and emergency preparedness.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Erik Taylor’s first name.