How snowy DC-area roads are complicating the morning commute
Early Friday storm means snowy roads, single digit wind chills for the morning commute
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Snow has already coated the D.C. region Friday morning, leading to closures and delays. Here’s what you need to know.
Snow totals reached over two inches in Ashburn and Leesburg in Virginia by 6 a.m. Snow totals in Alexandria reached 2.1 inches, while Columbia and Laurel in Maryland reached 3.5 and 2.9 inches respectively.
Forecasters say we can expect to see two to four inches of snow for the D.C. region Friday, adding to the most significant snowfall the area has seen in two years.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for portions of central Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. The advisory will last until 7 p.m.
“As snow continues to come down across the region, there will be some lows in the action before it tapers off this afternoon but some heavier pockets at times as well,” 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff said.
A winter storm warning has also been issued until 7 p.m. in portions of central Maryland and northern Virginia, including Loudoun County in Virginia and Montgomery County in Maryland, where the weather service said snow could reach six inches.
“Snow will continue through the mid-afternoon with accumulating snow tapering off between 3-4 p.m.,” van de Graaff said.
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Powdery snow creates slick conditions
The powdery snow has already made its impact on D.C.-area roads and airports.
At 7:30 a.m. the snow caused a ground stop at Reagan National Airport by the Federal Aviation Administration, but the airport opened up their runways quickly, with planes taking off again by a little after 8 a.m.
U.S. Park Police shut down the George Washington Parkway from the Capital Beltway to Spout Run Parkway a little after 6 a.m., with both directions closed due to hazardous driving conditions in the ongoing snow.
According to Domen, the busiest roads have gotten a lot better as Route 1 through Alexandria and Interstate 395 have been cleared of snow, which makes it easier to drive on.
“You’re still gonna skid some depending on when you break and what the road is like at that spot there,” said Domen. “But with traffic so much lighter you do have a little bit more grace on the road too.”
WTOP reporter Steve Dresner reported earlier Friday there were two separate incidents where vehicles took the exit ramps too fast in Montgomery County, Maryland, adding that visibility is becoming an issue.
He said that by 4 a.m. in Gaithersburg secondary streets, along with portions of I-270, were snow-packed, which translated into challenging driving conditions.
“If you don’t need to be out, please stay at home,” Dresner said.
7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff agreed, telling drivers to “try to limit your time on the roads that could be slick for sure.”
How much more snow are we going to get?
Friday’s snow comes on top of remnants from Monday’s snowstorm, which brought 2-6 inches of accumulation to the area. The District got around 4 inches Monday, but some parts of Fairfax County, Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland, topped 5 inches.
A notable amount of that snow stuck around due to cold temperatures that moved in after the snowfall, with Friday’s system bringing more of the same.
The cold, heavy gusts expected Saturday could create another “hard freeze,” and bring more difficult conditions for D.C.-area drivers to end the week, but “while snow will fall on roads during the daytime, when traffic is heavier, the sun’s radiation through the clouds and rigorous road treatment should prevent any widespread gridlock,” according to WTOP Traffic Reporter Dave Dildine.
Full forecast
FRIDAY: WINTER ALERT
Snow likely
Highs: 31-36
Winds: Northeast 5-10 mph
FRIDAY NIGHT:
Lingering snow flurries, gradual clearing overnight
Lows: 16-21
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
SATURDAY: COLD ALERT
Partly sunny
Highs: 22-29
Winds: Northwest 15-20, Gusts 30 mph
SUNDAY:
Partly to mostly sunny
Highs: 30-36
Winds: Northwest 15-20, Gusts 30 mph
Current radar
WTOP’s Tadiwos Abedje, Steve Dresner and John Domen contributed to this report.