Salisbury, MD – According to the Baltimore Sun, a severe winter storm battered Maryland’s Eastern Shore on Sunday into Monday, February 23, 2026, dumping up to 15 inches of snow and causing widespread power outages that affected thousands of residents.
The storm disrupted travel, closed schools, and prompted a state of emergency declaration by Gov. Wes Moore. Precipitation initially fell as rain in central Maryland before transitioning to a mix of rain and snow overnight as temperatures dropped. Hazardous conditions, including strong winds and heavy snowfall, led to the governor’s urging for residents to avoid travel due to dangerous roads, potential power outages, and falling trees. State government offices operated on liberal leave that Monday.
School systems statewide adjusted operations in response. Baltimore City Public Schools and Anne Arundel County Public Schools shifted to virtual instruction, while Baltimore County Public Schools followed suit after a delayed start. Closures affected Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Wicomico, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, and Prince George’s County public schools. Talbot County Public Schools also went virtual.
The Maryland State Police handled over 1,190 calls for service and responded to 343 crashes, with nearly 30% originating from the Eastern Shore, where the storm struck hardest. Despite the intense weather, authorities noted few major crashes as many stayed off the roads. Salisbury and Wicomico County declared states of emergency, and the town of Berlin in Worcester County experienced a complete blackout.
Power outages plagued the region, with more than 1,000 customers affected in Baltimore City and County at the storm’s peak. Delmarva Power reported approximately 35,000 customers without electricity across its service area, including about 20,000 in Maryland—primarily in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties—and 15,000 in Delaware. Choptank Electric Cooperative saw an additional 13,500 outages. Restoration efforts progressed throughout the day, but thousands remained in the dark into late afternoon.
Katie Luckett, communications manager for Choptank, indicated that 40% of its customers lost power at one point, dropping to 17% by 4 p.m. Monday. “It’s widespread from Caroline County south,” she said. “All nine counties are impacted currently. We have brought in crews from other electric co-ops to assist with repairs and restore power.”
In Ocean City, Woody Vickers, deputy director of Public Works, described brutal conditions with whiteout visibility and transformers sparking like fireworks. The area from 40th Street south to the inlet lost power for much of Sunday night and into Monday morning, affecting 700 to 1,100 locations. Public works crews worked 16-hour shifts to clear roadways amid downed trees and wires.
The entire town of Berlin went dark around 10 p.m. Sunday due to issues with incoming power from Delmarva Power, despite the town’s own utility efforts. Mayor Zack Tyndall updated residents via Facebook, noting town crews cleared trees and streets while coordinating with Delmarva for restoration. By 9:30 a.m. Monday, some service returned, though outages persisted.
Zach Chizar of Exelon, Delmarva Power‘s parent company, confirmed crews were on site, with 1,014 still out in Ocean City, 6,000 in Wicomico County, and 4,000 in Somerset by 4 p.m. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis reported multiple downed trees and businesses, including government offices, running on generators. “We’re encouraging everyone to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”
Western Maryland faced additional snowfall and winds up to 50 mph in Garrett County under a winter storm warning. In the Baltimore area, limited snow created slick roads, prompting activation of the city’s Emergency Operations Center. Road closures occurred, and MARC train service reduced on affected lines. BWI Marshall Airport warned of flight disruptions.
Tragically, in Calvert County, two people died and one was critically injured when a tree fell on a truck. National Weather Service forecaster Eswar Iyer noted up to 15 inches of snow on the lower Eastern Shore, with gusts to 60 mph in Ocean City knocking out the observing station. Snow accumulation varied: 2.3 inches in Odenton, 2 inches in Annapolis, and up to 5 inches in parts of Baltimore County.
The storm followed a major January snowfall of over 11 inches at BWI. Forecaster Kevin Witt predicted lingering snow due to cold temperatures in the mid-20s that night, warming to the 50s by week’s end, likely melting remnants. For more information, visit Baltimore Sun.