MD Winter Storm To Bring Freezing Rain, Winter Weather Advisory Issued

MARYLAND — Freezing rain and possible slick roads are in the Maryland weather forecast, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory. State officials are asking residents to stay home if travel becomes risky, and drivers should monitor for poor driving conditions for Thursday morning's commute.

The advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. through 1 p.m. Thursday. Forecasters expect freezing rain accumulation ranging from a glaze to one-tenth inch. Most of the freezing rain should fall between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Thursday.

In Maryland, the advisory applies to all or parts of Baltimore, Cecil, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard and Harford counties. The District of Columbia and several Northern Virginia counties are also under the advisory.

Freezing rain with total ice accumulations of a glaze to around one-tenth of an inch are expected. The highest ice amounts will be in the northern and western suburbs of Washington and
Baltimore, the weather service said.

"Difficult travel conditions are possible. The hazardous conditions will likely impact the morning commute on Thursday," the NWS said.

Wintry precipitation begins overnight and continues into Thursday morning. Warmer air should push in later Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon changing the precipitation to rain.

“We’re asking for motorists’ patience while our crews are out doing their jobs, clearing paths for drivers,” Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Administrator Tim Smith said in a statement. “While we encourage everyone to stay home if travel becomes hazardous, those who must go out should remember that the safest spot for people that have to drive is safely behind our equipment.”

A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

State Highway Crews Taking Precautions

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration crews on Wednesday treated highways with a mix of salt brine and water to help fight icing as the storm moves into the state.

The storm is expected to begin as a wintry mix for points north and west of the I-95 corridor. Garrett and Allegany counties are expecting icing conditions, so drivers should keep updated with forecasts and delay travel in the event of icing, an MDOT news release said.

The MDOT asks drivers to avoid or delay travel during the storm.

Watch for icy roads and bridges statewide since the storm will coincide with cold air in place. Far western Maryland is expected to feel the greatest impact, while the lower Eastern Shore is expected to get mostly rain.

MDOT SHA winter fact sheets and winter driving safety tips are available here.

For those who do have to travel, MDOT SHA offers these safety reminders:

• Slow down. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions.
• Use extra caution on elevated surfaces, such as bridges, overpasses, and ramps. These areas freeze first.
• Don’t crowd the plow. Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and MDOT SHA equipment.
• Clear snow from the entire vehicle as remaining snow on hoods and roofs can become ice and dislodge during highway travel and pose a hazard to other motorists.

Commercial vehicle drivers can ride out storms that produce 6 inches of precipitation or more in selected park-and-ride locations throughout the state. A list of these parks-and-rides are located here.

Safety Tips For MD Drivers

The Interstate 95 incident in Virginia in January 2022 should be a reminder for drivers to prepare for poor road conditions, AAA Mid-Atlantic said.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on I-95 for about a 50-mile stretch for nearly a day as heavy snow and dropping temperatures contributed to the interstate's condition. Some vehicles ran out of gas, others rationed their gas, and stranded travelers shared resources while trapped on the interstate.

"While the shutdown on I-95 is an extreme example, hours-long delays on winter roadways are not unusual, especially at higher elevations and on more rural roadways that regularly see sleet, snow and ice during the winter months," said Ragina Ali, the public and government affairs manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic in the DC region.

AAA recommends keeping a stocked emergency kit in vehicles and checking travel conditions before driving. Maryland's real-time road conditions can be checked online.

Official urged residents to plan for telework or delay travel Thursday morning until conditions improve.

For those who drive during winter weather conditions, allow extra time for tips, reducing speeds, braking lightly, and following at an appropriate distance. Bridges, ramps and overpasses are especially prone to freezing.

Here's the latest Maryland weather forecast from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday Night: Rain or freezing rain likely, mainly after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Light and variable wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total nighttime ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain or freezing rain, becoming all rain after 11am. High near 46. East wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly before 2am. Low around 40. East wind 10 to 16 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 3 to 8 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 40.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.