UPDATE: Montgomery County Closings, Delays for Tuesday

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Updated at 10:30 a.m.

Montgomery County is offering free parking in county-owned lots and garages Tuesday to encourage residents to park vehicles off roadways so that snow plows can clear our county’s roads.

Parking fees will not be required at the county-owned lots and garages and metered spaces. Parking payment enforcement in the county is suspended, but illegal parking enforcement is still in effect.

Residents are encouraged to remove all vehicles from neighborhood roads to support the county’s snow treatment and removal efforts.

Treatment and plowing of primary and secondary roads occurred throughout the night and has now begun on neighborhood streets.

Original story:

With the region under a winter storm warning through Tuesday morning, Montgomery County Public Schools and all administrative offices are closed. All school and community activities in school buildings are canceled.

Rockville Changes

City of Rockville offices will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Essential personnel should report to work as scheduled.

Parking fees have been lifted for Tuesday, Feb. 17 in all county-owned parking garages, parking lots and metered spaces. Residents are encouraged to use free parking in county garages to facilitate plowing operations.

Weather problems

A broken sprinkler head at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring caused an icy mess Monday, reports Montgomery Community Media.

Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Dana Tofig told the media outlet the sprinkler head in the greenhouse of the school broke. Because there were no drains on the floor, he said, there was no serious damage to the school building.

Transportation officials urged residents not to travel Tuesday if possible. “Stay home,” said State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gischlar, just before 5 a.m. He noted pavement temperatures were low (in the teens), snow was continuing to fall and roads may be icy.

Closings, Changes in Montgomery County

A snow emergency plan has been issued for Montgomery County and police are urging residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. To help State Highway Administration snow-clearing crews treat and clear all major roadways, all vehicles left unattended on Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) corridor and Interstate 270 corridor will be towed for safe keeping, according to a Maryland State Police new release.

WSSC is closed Tuesday due to weather conditions. Essential employees are expected to report to work as usual. The WSSC 24-Hour Emergency Line remains open at 301.206.4002.

»Photo of ice at Montgomery Blair High School via Montgomery Community Media.