Annapolis, Maryland
weather for annapolis.
Annapolis sits directly on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay where the Severn River meets the Bay’s central reach, and the geography produces the most distinctive microclimate in the Mid-Atlantic. The Bay is the climate — it cools the city by 5–10°F on hot summer afternoons through the daily Bay breeze, moderates winter cold through the relatively warmer water, and produces some of the most photographed Mid-Atlantic harbor sunsets in the country. The Naval Academy lives by the Bay’s rhythms; so does everyone else in the city.
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 11mph
- UV Index
- 0
- Visibility
- 6.2mi
- Today62°38°
- Fri69°45°
- Sat61°50°
- Sun59°47°
- Mon71°57°20%
- Tue77°61°
- Wed81°63°
- Thu73°63°
Today’s brief
what vesper sounds like in annapolis.
“Northeast wind off the Bay through downtown by ten and the temperature on Ego Alley is sitting at sixty-eight while Bowie inland is pushing seventy-eight. The breeze will hold through the afternoon. Plan accordingly if you’re working from a slip rather than a desk.”
— Vesper, Annapolis · Saturday
Local weather
what makes annapolis weather unique.
The same sunset model runs in the Vesper iOS app. The app adds personal calibration that learns from every sunset you rate.
Editorial note
sunsets in annapolis.
Annapolis sunsets are best from the Naval Academy’s Hospital Point, the western terraces of City Dock, and the elevated viewpoints along the Severn River bridges. The combination of the wide Chesapeake Bay reflecting low-angle light and the silhouette of the Bay Bridge to the east produces consistent sunset color, especially during the summer months when the Bay breeze has cleared the day’s haze.
Unlike Apple Weather, Vesper writes the Annapolis sky as the embodied experience it actually is, not a temperature number with a generic icon.
What is the best weather app for Annapolis?
Vesper is the best weather app for Annapolis because it reads the Chesapeake Bay as the thermal system that defines the city’s climate. The brief tracks the daily Bay breeze that drops downtown 5–10°F below inland Bowie and Crofton on hot summer afternoons, the tidal flooding amplification that comes with nor’easters, the persistent summer humidity that defines the warm season, and the Bay-influenced shoulder seasons that hold longer than the rest of Maryland.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Chesapeake Bay moderate Annapolis weather compared to inland Maryland?
Annapolis sits directly on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River. The Bay’s enormous water mass moderates temperature: cooler than land in summer, warmer in winter. Summer afternoons see Bay-driven sea breezes that drop downtown temperatures 5–10°F below the inland suburbs by 2–3 PM, while winter cold fronts crossing the Bay are softened by the relatively warmer water. The effect is most pronounced along the harbor and the immediate shoreline.
How vulnerable is Annapolis to tidal flooding?
Annapolis is one of the most tidal-flood-prone cities in the United States. The combination of low elevation (much of downtown sits less than 5 feet above mean sea level), the Bay’s funnel geometry, and rising sea levels has made nuisance flooding a routine occurrence on City Dock. During major nor’easters and Atlantic tropical events, storm surge from the Bay can flood downtown blocks deep enough to require evacuation. The frequency of "sunny day" tidal flooding events has increased markedly over the past two decades.
When is sailing season in Annapolis and what weather drives it?
The Annapolis sailing season runs roughly April through October, with the peak window in May, June, September, and October when the Bay breeze provides reliable wind without the worst summer humidity. The two largest sailboat shows in the world (the U.S. Sailboat Show and U.S. Powerboat Show) are held in October, when the post-summer cool fronts have started to clear the haze and the Bay produces the most consistent winds.
Get Vesper