The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued Tornado Watch 67 at 10:50 a.m. EDT on Monday, March 16, 2026, placing much of Maryland under the alert until 7:00 p.m. EDT. The watch covers 17 counties and Baltimore City, driven by a powerful cold front expected to spawn severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail, and a heightened tornado risk.
Counties included are Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester. Baltimore City falls under the independent cities category in the watch.
This watch follows Governor Wes Moore’s State of Preparedness declaration on March 15, 2026, activating state agencies including the Maryland Department of Emergency Management to coordinate ahead of the storms. The system brings threats of wind gusts up to 70-80 mph, hail, and isolated tornadoes, with storms moving from western Maryland mid-morning and progressing eastward through the afternoon and evening.
Southern Maryland counties—Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s—face direct inclusion in the watch, aligning with prior National Weather Service outlooks highlighting risks for the region. Local impacts prompted proactive measures: Charles County Public Schools and other districts ordered two-hour early dismissals on March 16 to ensure student safety before peak storm arrival. St. Mary’s County schools followed suit, canceling after-school programs amid forecasts of hazardous conditions in the afternoon.
The watch underscores a rare elevated severe weather setup for the Mid-Atlantic, with potential for widespread damaging winds from squall lines and embedded tornadoes. Residents in affected areas should monitor local National Weather Service offices, such as Baltimore/Washington (weather.gov/lwx), for real-time updates, warnings, and radar. Immediate shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor is advised upon tornado warnings.
This event builds on earlier preparations, including Governor Moore’s directive for residents to secure loose objects, charge devices, review family emergency plans, and avoid unnecessary travel. The Maryland Emergency Management Department continues urging sign-ups for local alerts and readiness for power outages or debris.
Southern Maryland communities, including those in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties, remain vigilant as the cold front approaches, with schools and officials prioritizing safety in advance of the main storm line expected in the late afternoon to evening hours.