Maryland faces another hot and humid summer day, but the most noticeable change may be the increasingly hazy sky.
Canadian wildfire smoke will continue spreading across the region, creating a milky appearance overhead and potentially reducing visibility at times. Air quality will also be unhealthy for sensitive groups across a large portion of the state.
Most communities will remain dry, although a few thunderstorms could develop late this afternoon and evening. Storm coverage is expected to be limited, but any storm that successfully forms could produce strong or locally damaging wind gusts.
Morning Commute
The morning begins warm, humid and mostly dry across Maryland.
Temperatures will generally start in the upper 60s across the western mountains, the 70s through much of the state, and near 80 degrees around Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis and portions of the Eastern Shore.
Smoke and haze may become increasingly noticeable throughout the morning. The sky could appear partly cloudy or overcast even where traditional clouds are limited.
No widespread rain is expected during the commute, although localized visibility reductions may develop where smoke mixes closer to the surface. NWS guidance indicates wildfire smoke will affect Maryland through today and potentially linger into Friday. (National Weather Service)
Daytime Forecast
Temperatures will quickly climb despite the haze.
The smoke may block enough sunlight to keep some locations a few degrees cooler than earlier forecasts suggested. However, it will still be hot and humid, with heat-index values approaching or exceeding 100 degrees in many central, southern and eastern communities.
Approximate afternoon highs:
Western Maryland: Garrett County should remain comparatively cooler, with highs generally in the middle to upper 80s. Allegany County and the Cumberland area may reach the lower 90s.
Washington and Frederick counties: Highs should reach the lower to middle 90s, with locations around Hagerstown potentially approaching 95 degrees.
North-central Maryland: Carroll, northern Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties can expect highs in the middle to upper 90s.
Baltimore metropolitan region: Highs near 96 to 98 degrees are possible, with heat-index values around 100 to 105 degrees. The official Baltimore forecast calls for a high near 98 with a heat index as high as 103. (National Weather Service)
Washington suburbs: Montgomery, Howard and Prince George’s counties should reach the middle to upper 90s. Heat-index values may approach 105 degrees in the hottest locations.
Southern Maryland: Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties should reach the lower to middle 90s, with heat-index values around 100 degrees.
Annapolis and Chesapeake Bay communities: Temperatures should rise into the middle 90s, although immediate waterfront locations may be slightly cooler.
Upper and Mid-Eastern Shore: Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Talbot counties should reach the lower to middle 90s.
Lower Eastern Shore: Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and inland Worcester counties should reach the lower to middle 90s. Salisbury is expected to reach approximately 94 degrees.
Maryland beaches: Ocean City should remain cooler, with widespread haze and a high near 87 degrees. (National Weather Service)
Air Quality Alert
Code Orange Air Quality Alerts are in effect across much of central and eastern Maryland because of elevated pollution and incoming wildfire smoke.
Alerted areas include portions of Frederick, Carroll, Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Harford, Cecil, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Alerts are also in effect across Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties, including the Maryland beaches. (National Weather Service)
Code Orange means air pollution may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, older adults and people with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions should consider reducing strenuous or extended outdoor activity.
Even people outside sensitive groups may notice irritation, coughing, headaches or the smell of smoke if concentrations become high enough locally.
Afternoon and Evening Storm Risk
Most of Maryland will not receive rain today.
A weak front approaching the Pennsylvania–Maryland border could help trigger isolated thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening. The most favored areas initially appear to be northern Maryland, northeastern Maryland and portions of the Eastern Shore.
Storm development remains uncertain because the wildfire smoke may reduce daytime heating and prevent storms from forming.
However, the atmosphere will contain enough instability and wind shear to support organized thunderstorms if they do develop. The primary concern would be locally damaging wind gusts, although small hail and frequent lightning may also occur.
The Storm Prediction Center has identified a low-end severe-weather risk across portions of the Mid-Atlantic. Its morning outlook specifically notes that organized storm cells or line segments could produce locally damaging winds near the Pennsylvania–Maryland border. (Storm Prediction Center)
National Weather Service guidance also highlights the possibility of isolated severe storms across Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Talbot counties during the afternoon and evening. (National Weather Service)
This is not expected to become a widespread storm day. Many locations may stay completely dry, but residents should remain alert if a storm develops nearby because it could intensify quickly.
Thursday Evening
Any isolated thunderstorms should weaken or move away during the evening.
Otherwise, expect a warm and partly cloudy night with lingering haze or smoke. Temperatures will fall through the 80s during the evening, with overnight lows ranging from the lower 60s in the western mountains to the upper 60s and lower 70s inland.
Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore will generally remain in the middle to upper 70s overnight.
Looking Ahead
Friday should remain hot and hazy, with additional wildfire smoke likely across Maryland. Temperatures may be slightly lower in some areas, but poor air quality and reduced visibility could continue.
The weather pattern becomes considerably more active this weekend.
Showers and thunderstorms may begin returning Friday night before becoming more widespread Saturday. Multiple rounds of storms are possible Saturday into Saturday night, bringing a risk of damaging winds, torrential rainfall and localized flash flooding.
Some showers or storms could linger into Sunday before conditions gradually improve. (National Weather Service)
Bottom Line
Thursday will be another hot and humid day across Maryland, with hazy skies and poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfire smoke.
Heat-index values between 100 and 105 degrees are possible across central, northern and southern Maryland. Most locations will remain dry, but isolated late-day thunderstorms could produce locally damaging wind gusts.
Limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, monitor air quality conditions and remain weather-aware during the late afternoon and evening.
Forecast prepared using official National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington, Mount Holly, Pittsburgh and Wakefield guidance, along with the Storm Prediction Center outlook available early Thursday morning, July 16, 2026.