Baltimore, Maryland

Geography

Baltimore is in the north central part of the state of Maryland, on the Patapsco River, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. It is on the western edge of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with low hills rising in the western part of the city.

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 238.5 km² (92.1 mi²). 209.3 km² (80.8 mi²) of it is land and 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.240% water.

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The Baltimore–Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the 20th largest in the United States, with a population of 2,552,994, includes the Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore (county), Carroll, Harford, Howard, and Queen Anne's, and the independent city of Baltimore.

Related Topics:
Towson - Metropolitan Statistical Area - 20th largest - Maryland - Anne Arundel - Baltimore (county) - Carroll - Harford - Howard - Queen Anne's - Independent city

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Climate

The city has a humid subtropical climate, moderated by the warming influence of the bay and nearby ocean, with hot summers, cool winters, generally high humidity, and annual precipitation of around 44 inches a year. Summers bring high temperatures typically in the upper 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit, with lows in the low to mid 70s. Winter can be varied, with Indian summers of 70 to 80-degree days leading to chilly days with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. Winter lows tend to hover near or above freezing, with occasional dips into the 20s and high teens. It is almost never below 10 degrees in the city, although as one moves west, away from the Chesapeake and higher in elevation, the climate becomes more continental and winter lows can dip down into the single digits.

Related Topics:
Subtropical climate - Indian summers

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The Appalachian Mountains protect Baltimore and its surrounding areas from much of the severe cold and wind that is experienced in the Great Lakes region.

Related Topics:
Appalachian Mountains - Great Lakes

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