Maryland

C

Coastline

The deeply indented shoreline has a length of 5,134 km (3,190 mi), of which only 50 km (31 miles) fronts on the Atlantic Ocean. The most significant coastal feature is Chesapeake Bay. In the bay are many islands and Kent Island is the largest.

The state’s coastline on the Atlantic is characterized by sandy beaches, behind which are extensive salt marshes and shallow lagoons. Offshore lies Assateague Island, a long narrow barrier beach that lies partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia. Barrier islands are naturally unstable as they constantly build in one area while eroding in others. North of Assateague Island, the major resort settlement of Ocean City is built on a barrier island. A major environmental challenge is to try to halt natural erosion to preserve the city.

D

Climate

The climate of Maryland is characterized by generally hot humid summers and cool winters. In comparison with the Eastern Shore and other lowland areas, the upland sections in the west have colder and longer winters and cooler and shorter summers.

D

1

Temperature

Average July temperatures range from 18°C (about 65° F) in western Maryland to between 24° and 27° C (75° and 80° F) in eastern Maryland. July temperatures in Baltimore average a high of 31° C (87° F) and a low of 19° C (67° F). Daytime temperatures in Maryland are often in the lower 30°s C (upper 80°s F) and occasionally reach the mid-30°s C (upper 90°s F). Summer nighttime temperatures are usually in the lower 20°s C (mid-70°s F).

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Average January temperatures range from less than -2°C (28° F) in the west to more than 2°C (35° F) on the Eastern Shore. The January temperatures in Baltimore average highs of 5° C (40° F) and lows of -5° C (23° F). Very cold winter weather, with temperatures in the -20°s C (below 0° F), is common in the western uplands but seldom occurs in the eastern lowlands.

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2

Precipitation

Precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) increases from 970 mm (38 in) a year in eastern Maryland to more than 1,170 mm (46 in) in the western mountains of the state. However, the driest area is in western Maryland, where Hagerstown Valley, hemmed in by mountains, receives less than 910 mm (36 in) of rain a year. Throughout the state most precipitation is in the form of rain. More than half the annual rainfall occurs in the summer months. In the winter, snow is common, but the snowfall is much greater in the mountains than in the lowlands. Hailstorms and thunderstorms occur occasionally in the summer months.

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3

Growing Season

The growing season, or period from the last killing frost in spring to the first killing frost in fall, increases from less than 140 days on the Allegheny Plateau to more than 210 days on the Delmarva Peninsula. The first major frost in fall usually occurs in late September on the plateau and six weeks later on the peninsula. The last major spring frost can be expected in early April on the peninsula and as late as mid-May in the western part of the state.