..HAZARDOUS TRAVELING CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY MORNING, Feb. 22…

THE SNOW AND ICE FROM SATURDAY HAS CAUSED DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
ACROSS MANY ROADWAYS THIS MORNING. DESPITE RISING
TEMPERATURES…PAVEMENT TEMPERATURES ARE MUCH COLDER DUE TO THE
RECENT COLD WEATHER. THIS WILL CAUSE SNOW COVERED AND ICY ROADS
THROUGH MOST OF THIS MORNING.

ANYONE TRAVELLING THIS MORNING SHOULD USE CAUTION AND ALLOW PLENTY
OF EXTRA TIME TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE
LATER TODAY AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO RISE.

Previous advisories

At 10:15 p.m. an updated forecast for Southern Maryland from the National Weather Service.

Overnight Rain, freezing rain, and sleet, becoming all rain after 3 a.m. Low around 33. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Total nighttime sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday, Rain likely, mainly before 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night, Cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Monday, Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has issued this update 

Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.

The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) and the Transportation Authority (MDTA) have 2,400 trucks plowing and salting throughout the state to keep roads passable during the storm. Today, collisions and abandoned vehicles hampered operations and contributed to traffic jams and difficulties treating roadways. With freezing rain predicted, SHA encourages everyone to avoid driving and if already traveling, get to their destinations and stay.

“Making sure the citizens of our state are kept informed and out of harm’s way will always be our number one priority, especially during winter storms like this one,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We are strongly encouraging Marylanders to use common sense and to avoid driving during this storm.”

Travelers may obtain the latest free traffic and weather information by calling 5-1-1 from a landline or a hands-free mobile device or logging onto www.MD511.org.  The website includes traffic camera images, maps of speeds and locations of incidents. Maryland’s 511 service offers free text and email alerts for most frequented routes through 511Direct – simply register and set your routes and preferences on-line.

Since the snow is forecast to turn to an icy mix, road crews will leave some snow on travel lanes to combine with salt and leave a slushy layer to prevent freezing precipitation from bonding to pavements and coating it with ice.  Driving in icy conditions is difficult no matter what type of vehicle a motorist uses, including four-wheel drives.

SHA maintains the numbered roads in Maryland with the exception of those on Baltimore City or tolled roads (including the ICC, I-95 north of Baltimore City, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge etc…).  MDTA maintains Maryland’s toll facilities. For those who wish to inquire about non-state roads, a list of County roads departments is here, http://roads.maryland.gov/index.aspx?pageid=9

Long distance commercial truck drivers may take safe haven during the storms at select SHA park and ride facilities across Maryland.  Click here (http://roads.maryland.gov/pages/emergencytruckparking.aspx?pageid=856) for a list of park and rides that are available.  Dispatch centers should consider delaying shipments during the storm to prevent potential problems for commercial vehicles and drivers

Customers may also follow SHA on Twitter @MDSHA and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration.

Saturday, Feb. 21 forecast from the National Weather Service

Today – Snow likely before noon, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet. High near 34. South wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight – Rain or freezing rain, becoming all rain after 9pm. Temperature rising to around 39 by 2am. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Sunday – Rain likely, mainly before 9am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night – A slight chance of snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. North wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

At 2 p.m. the Maryland Department of Transportation issued this update.

Moderate to Heavy Snowfall Expected through Early Evening; Crews Need Space to Plow and Salt

(February 21, 2015) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is urging travelers to stay off the roads this afternoon and evening as moderate to heavy snow is falling in all areas west of the bay, with sleet and freezing rain expected later tonight.  SHA crews are plowing and salting across the state and will continue operations throughout the day and tonight.

“Motorists should not be out unless it is an absolute emergency.” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters.  “With the intense rate of snowfall, we are seeing roads become snow covered shortly after our plows have cleared the lanes. People who are traveling are becoming stuck and average travel speeds are well below 20 mph.

Crews will only be able to get highways to bare pavement well after precipitation ends.”

SHA maintains the numbered roads in Maryland with the exception of those on Baltimore City or tolled roads (including the ICC, I-95 north of Baltimore City, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge etc…).  For those who wish to inquire about non-state roads, a list of County roads departments is here, http://roads.maryland.gov/index.aspx?pageid=9

Long distance commercial truck drivers may take safe haven during the storms at select SHA park and ride facilities across Maryland.  Click here (http://roads.maryland.gov/pages/emergencytruckparking.aspx?pageid=856) for a list of park and rides that are available.  Dispatch centers should consider delaying shipments during the storm to prevent potential problems for commercial vehicles and drivers.  A large truck stuck during a storm diverts emergency responders and can create significant traffic backups and impact snow removal operations.

Travelers may obtain the latest free traffic and weather information by calling 5-1-1 from a landline or a hands-free mobile device or logging onto www.MD511.org.  Maryland’s 511 service now offers free text and email alerts for most frequented routes through 511Direct – simply register and set your routes and preferences on-line.

Customers may also follow SHA on Twitter @MDSHA and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration.

Charles County Government issued this storm-related advisory Saturday afternoon.

Fast-falling snow is impacting much of Maryland today making for slippery road conditions. Some areas of the state will experience snow falling at a rate of 1 inch or more per hour. Because of very low temperatures, roadways could remain hazardous for motorists throughout Saturday and into Sunday.

Local agencies are working together to coordinate the response to this storm. Local officials will work with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency if additional resources are needed. “Resident safety is our first priority,” said MEMA Executive Director Clay Stamp.” “Marylanders can help themselves by staying off the roads and staying informed as to the current weather. Find out the latest information by viewing local news and by checking MEMA’s website.”

In addition to staying off the roads, residents should take the following actions to help remain safe and prepared:

• Keep devices charged so you will have a way follow weather forecasts and local emergency information.
• Be cautious shoveling snow to avoid overexertion. Take frequent breaks and keep hydrated.
• If you must travel, make sure to have a car chargers, kitty litter or sand for traction, and extra drinks and snacks in case you get stuck in traffic.
• Let friends or family know of your travel route and expected arrival times.
• Make sure pets are not kept outside without shelter in cold and snowy weather and be aware that salt and other ice melting materials may hurt animal’s paws.
• Dress in layers, taking care to keep your hands covered.
• Know who to contact in the case of a power outage.

For more information about winter weather preparedness, please visit the following websites:

MEMA: www.mema.maryland.gov
DHMH: http://dhmh.maryland.gov/winterrpts/SitePages/Home.aspx
FEMA: www.ready.gov and click on the Winter Storms link
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster and click on Winter Storm.

Severe weather notices are posted online at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, on CCGTV cable television (Verizon channel 10 and Comcast channel 95), on Facebook and on Twitter. Sign up for the Citizen Notification System (CNS) at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CNS to receive inclement weather notifications by email or text message.  For weather-related roads inquiries, call 888-460-SNOW (7669). For updated information on power outages, view the SMECO outage map at stormcenter.smeco.coop. Call 877-747-6326 to report a power outage.  Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.