CALIFORNIA, Md. — A powerful winter storm sweeping through the region left significant portions of Southern Maryland without electricity Monday, with the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative reporting about 100 active outages and more than 12,000 residences without power as of Feb. 23, 2026.
The outages followed heavy snowfall and gusty winds that moved through the area, weighing down trees and power lines and creating hazardous travel conditions. Wet, accumulating snow is known to increase the risk of downed limbs and damaged utility infrastructure.
SMECO crews have been working to assess damage and restore service, prioritizing repairs that will return electricity to the largest number of customers first. Restoration efforts are expected to continue as crews navigate snow-covered roads and ongoing winter conditions.
Residents are urged to stay clear of any downed power lines and report them immediately. Officials also recommend checking on elderly neighbors, conserving phone battery life, and using generators safely — never indoors or in enclosed spaces — to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Cold temperatures combined with extended outages can create additional safety concerns, particularly for those who rely on electrically powered medical equipment. Emergency preparedness officials encourage residents to have flashlights, blankets, food, and water readily available until power is restored.
Customers can monitor outage numbers and restoration progress through SMECO’s online outage map, here.
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We lost power around 9:30 PM Sunday night. It was restored in about 1.5 hours. I realize that it is dangerous work that is done in miserable conditions. This response was incredible as I realize that there were multiple problems in many areas. I would like to express my appreciation for their efforts.
We had power go on and off a couple times. I know I wouldn’t want to be out repairing major service lines…in any weather! SMECO Lineman are some of the absolute best!