PG County Closings Due To Wind Storm March 2

BOWIE, MD — With dire warnings from the National Service about Friday's strong winds turning objects into flying projectiles, some services and offices are closed. That includes federal offices in the Washington, D.C. area are closed. Emergency and telework-ready employees required to work must follow their agency’s policies. More from OPM.

On Friday, March 2, Prince George's County Public Schools are closed for students and all staff in a Code Red.

Also Prince George’s County District Court is closed, and the United States District Court of Maryland in Greenbelt is closed.

Bowie State University and Prince George’s Community College are both closed.

University of Maryland in College Park is set to open at noon.

Maryland Transit Administration reports that MARC Train Service has been canceled due to downed trees and signal issues.

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Downed trees and power lines:

To report a down tree or tree limb, please call 301-499-8523, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. except holidays. For after hour emergencies, call 301-499-8600. Trees on private property are the responsibility of the homeowner.

Reminder on emergencies:

The Prince George's County Fire Department tweeted: "Only call 911 if you have an emergency. For Example: Checking to see when power is going to be restored is not an emergency."

City of Bowie Update:

City government is open and currently operating on a normal schedule. Trash and recycling pickups are underway. Residents are asked to remove empty cans from the street as soon as possible so they don't cause a hazard.

High winds continue to blow throughout the area. BGE is reporting some power outages in Bowie and several trees have fallen, but so far the impacts of the wind conditions have not been too bad, the city website said Friday morning. However, this will be a long duration event. Winds are expected to remain above 25 mph for much of the weekend, so more power outages and downed trees are very likely.

Report power outages to BGE at 1-877-778-2222. Report downed trees on roads or sidewalks to the Bowie Police Non-Emergency Call Center at 240-544-5700.

Weather Statement

Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are predicted Friday as a nor'easter buffets the Baltimore-Washington region all day, authorities are warning of dangerous driving conditions, projectiles that could injure pedestrians, power outages from fallen tree limbs, and broken windows from flying debris. In fact, the National Weather Service said in a special weather statement that residents should remain in the lower levels of their homes during the storm, and avoid windows.

Wind speeds could top those that Superstorm Sandy brought to the state in October 2012, forecasters say, which were in the 61 mph range. By daybreak, winds across the region will be from the northwest sustained at 30-40 mph, with gusts of 60-70 mph. "Isolated wind gusts could reach 80 mph, particularly at higher elevations west of the Interstate 95 corridor. While the strongest winds will occur between 6 a.m. and noon Friday, gusts from 55 to 65 mph in the afternoon and through Friday night," the weather service says.

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