Cold-related deaths continue to climb in Maryland
Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 12:02 AM UTC
1 min read
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Across the state of Maryland, 27 people have died from hypothermia so far this season, according to the Maryland Department of Health.
This comes as the Baltimore region remains in the midst of one of its longest subfreezing streaks to date, as well as its heaviest snowfall in nearly a decade.
The department’s most recent weekly update shows that Maryland may be on pace to have more cold-related deaths than last year (75), which saw the most recorded since the state began reporting them in 2013.
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These reports encompass deaths reported by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in which the office has determined hypothermia as a cause or contributing factor.
A report published late last year by the state health department found that heat-related deaths in Maryland were “significantly higher” than in previous years during the 2025 warm weather season.
Cold-related deaths in Baltimore City comprise the largest share of those included in the report, much like heat-related deaths in the city over the summer, despite efforts made by city agencies and nonprofits to provide shelter for those in need during extreme weather emergencies.
According to the report, 13 cold-related deaths in Maryland occurred indoors, with the same amount being reported outdoors, though a single death from hypothermia was recorded as taking place inside a vehicle.
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Earlier this week, Annapolis Police investigated the county’s first cold-related death of the season when a woman appeared to have slipped on ice while hiking before losing consciousness and ultimately succumbing to freezing temperatures. Her death was not included in the report, which has tabulated fatalities through Jan. 24.
Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 and on X as @mmmschumer.