Hogan: Stay Off MD Roads Overnight, Friday Morning As Snow Falls

Updated at 5:20 p.m. Thursday

MARYLAND — A winter weather advisory has been extended for most of Maryland, which will see its second snowstorm of the week starting Thursday night. The next round of snowfall could make Friday's morning commute a challenge.

The advisory takes effect at 9 p.m. Thursday and runs until 7 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said.

Areas included in the advisory are: Cecil, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Montgomery, Howard and Harford counties. Garrett County and part of Allegany County are under a winter storm warning.

The National Weather Service is predicting 2 to 4 inches of snow in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas, parts of central and southern Maryland, and portions of northern Virginia.

Isolated high snowfall amounts of up to 6 inches are possible, the forecast said.

"Plan on slippery road conditions," the National Weather Service said. "The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning commute."

The storm could have a significant impact on Friday morning’s commute, Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday afternoon.

“We ask Marylanders to avoid travel tonight and tomorrow morning if possible, especially with the possibility of wind gusts that could take down trees and wires. Keeping the roads free of heavy traffic gives the crews and first responders room to do their jobs.”

According to the National Weather Service, snow started falling in western Maryland Thursday afternoon, and most of Maryland will see the storm's impact later in the evening, with the least amount of accumulation on the Lower Shore.

This is expected to be a quick-moving storm with snow of about 1 inch per hour for three to five hours, with the primary impact coming overnight. Between residual salt from earlier in the week, and brining operations over the last 24 hours, roadways are pre-treated in preparation for this storm, state officials said

Visibility will be reduced to near or less than one-half mile.

Jeff Orrock, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service's office in Wakefield, Virginia, said the snow will start to reach the I-95 corridor around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

By the time people wake up Friday morning, the snowstorm should be finished, he said.

With temperatures on Friday and Saturday expected to remain below or around freezing, the snow will be around for a few days. Both days, however, will have lots of sun, which could lead to some melting, he said.

There is a slight winter storm threat late Saturday night into Sunday with freezing rain possible, the NWS said. If freezing precipitation falls, it may cause travel disruptions.

A gale warning is in effect Friday for the Maryland Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to Smith Point and surrounding inlets, as well as the Tidal Potomac River from Cobb Island to Smith Point.

Here's the latest Maryland forecast:

Thursday Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday Night: Snow, mainly after 9pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 26. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday: A chance of snow, mainly before 7am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 33. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Sunday: A chance of rain or freezing rain between 8am and 11am, then rain. High near 43. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: Rain, mainly before 8pm. Low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.