Officials in the Baltimore region and a broad swath of the East Coast are sounding the alarm about a snowstorm this weekend forecast to be among the most severe in years.

Mad Max says he isn’t worried about it at all.

The 34-year-old, who prefers to be identified by his nickname, sleeps outside but says there is plenty of heat for him and the other two inhabitants of the makeshift tent dwelling they built near Mount Royal Terrace and I-83.

“We got a propane burner in there. It’s like a little crab pot burner,” he explained today, opening the tent flap to point out the device nestled amid bedding and other belongings.

“The other night it was like 8 degrees, and I was in there sweating,” he said.

Saying he’s been on his own for the last 21 years, Max knows how to get by in tough conditions and, “as a true anarchist,” prefers the freedom of his lifestyle to the strictures of a city shelter or other living arrangements.

“I don’t bug anybody, I don’t steal,” he said. Previously he’s been a chef and worked in a bakery, but currently he gets by painting leather jackets for people, “unlocking phones I find” and other odd jobs.

Still he knows it’s not an ideal situation. His wife, living with him there in the tent, died four months ago, he said, and another inhabitant “has a really bad infection in both of his arms.”

“I want to be a better person and do something with myself,” he added as The Brew departed.

An Extreme Cold Weather Advisory was issued for the Baltimore Washington area. (@NWS_BaltWash)

Wind Chills Low as -5 Degrees

Officials warn that storm conditions – starting Friday night and continuing through Monday morning – could bring high winds, heavy snowfall, hazardous travel conditions, power outages and potential disruptions to school schedules, government operations and planned events across Maryland.

Gov. Wes Moore has declared a State of Preparedness, placing he National Guard on standby across the state to ensure rapid response capabilities, his office said in a press release.

He and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott have scheduled news conferences tomorrow to provide more details about preparations.

Warning residents to expect “plowable snow and  significant icing,” the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Advisory for the Baltimore-Washington area for late Saturday afternoon through Sunday. 

As for snow accumulation, predictions widely vary, with some forecasters predicting as much as 18 inches.

Here’s the latest NWS forecast for our area:

Friday Night – Partly cloudy with a low around 11°. Wind chill values as low as -3°. Blustery with a northwest wind 14 to 24 mph. Gusts as high as 33 mph.

Saturday – Increasing clouds with a high near 21°. Wind chill values as low as -5°. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Saturday Night– Snow. Could be heavy at times. Low around 16°. North wind 5 to 9 mph, becoming calm. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Sunday – Snow and sleet before 1 p.m., then sleet, possibly mixed with snow and freezing rain. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 25°. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Sunday Night – Sleet before 1 a.m., then a chance of snow. Low around 21°. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Monday – A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 25°. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Max shows a visitor the inside of his home. (Fern Shen)

“Code Blue” for the Homeless

The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) declared a “Code Blue” Alert starting this afternoon and extending through Tuesday at 9 a.m.

This winter shelter activation means that city-funded shelters will be available for overnight stays, and certain buildings will operate as warming centers.

A list of shelters and warming centers is available on the city’s website. Here’s what the website now shows:

A Surging Problem

At a hearing last November, MOHS officials told a City Council committee that homelessness in Baltimore is surging and serious. Presenting data covering the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2024, they said:

• The city’s outreach team encountered 26% more people experiencing homelessness.

• There were 45% more households experiencing homelessness that include children, and 22% more adults age 65 or older.

The federally required “Point in Time” survey conducted last January found the following:

• Of the people interviewed at emergency shelters, 37% said it was their first time seeking help in such a place.

• Of those interviewed elsewhere, 52% said it was their first time experiencing street homelessness.

See CONTINUING BREW SERIES, “Homelessness and Housing,” for more.