Can You Pave Asphalt in Cold Weather in Maryland?
Maryland's official temperature limits for placing asphalt, why cold weather matters, and what the winter climate normals show.
Maryland's State Highway Administration allows final surface asphalt only when the air and surface are at least 40 degrees, base layers at 32 degrees, polymer-modified surface mixes at 50, and never on a frozen stone base. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says cold weather shortens the time available to compact the mat.
Maryland's official limits
The Maryland State Highway Administration's 2025 Standard Specifications, section 504.03.02, say to place mixes used as the final surface when the ambient air and surface temperatures are at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit, intermediate and base layers when they are at least 32 degrees, and polymer-modified surface mixes at 50 degrees or more. Surfaces must be clean and dry, and asphalt is not to be placed on a frozen graded aggregate base. These are the state's rules for its own roads; they are the clearest published Maryland benchmark.
Why cold weather is hard on asphalt
The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association's cold-weather brief says hot-mix asphalt has to be compacted while it is roughly between 275 and 175 degrees. Air temperature, wind, sunlight and the temperature of the surface underneath all affect how fast it cools, and the two biggest factors are the mix temperature and the thickness of the layer. Its example: a 1.25-inch lift at 275 degrees leaves about 7 minutes to compact, while a 2-inch lift leaves about 17.
What Maryland winters look like
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Baltimore-Washington International airport put the average daily high at 57.3 degrees in November, 47.5 in December, 43.2 in January, 46.4 in February and 54.8 in March, with average lows below freezing in December, January and February. On an average winter day the afternoon high clears 40 degrees, but the ground and the forecast decide each job.
Winter work at South State
South State Paving paves through the colder months when the weather allows, and runs its winter offer: $250 off a new driveway.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Maryland State Highway Administration's specifications call for ambient air and surface temperatures of at least 40 degrees for final surface mixes and 32 degrees for base layers, and 50 degrees for polymer-modified surface mixes.
The Maryland State Highway Administration's specifications say not to place asphalt on a frozen graded aggregate base.
The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says asphalt must be compacted while roughly between 275 and 175 degrees, and cold air, wind and a cold base shorten the time available to do it.
Sources
The figures on this page come from these sources, read on 2026-09-25. None of them is South State Paving's own claim.
- Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, 2025 Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials, Section 504.03.02 Weather Restrictions
- Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association, Best Practices for Cold Weather Paving
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly, Baltimore-Washington International Airport (USW00093721)