Maryland sees its first major snowstorm of the season
BALTIMORE -- Many Marylanders woke up to several inches of snow and messy road conditions Monday morning as the state was hit with a winter storm. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Storm Warning that will remain in effect through Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The storm brought heavy snowfall, ice accumulation and freezing temperatures to much of the state, prompting schools and businesses to close.
State police responded to more than 750 calls for service and more than 200 crashes between 1 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can monitor statewide conditions here.
How much snow will we get?
The National Weather Service estimated that the Baltimore region would see about 4 to 8 inches of snow accumulation, with 10 inches possible in some isolated areas.
As 6 p.m. Monday, the First Alert Weather Team estimated three to 12 inches of snow had fallen across the area.
Road conditions
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott both declared a state of emergency as transportation officials urged drivers to stay home and off the roads.
"Avoidance is best," said Dr. Vanessa Redd, the Chief of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland St. Joesph Medical Center. "So, if you can kind of hunker down and stay indoors where it's warm, that's your safest bet."
Plow crews in Baltimore County have been working since Saturday to pretreat over 8,000 roads and officials told WJZ it will take about 24 hours or more for plows to make a first pass in every neighborhood.
The Maryland Department of Transportation urged drivers not to crowd or pass snow plows as they work to clear roads through the day. As of 9 a.m. Monday, the department had about 600 vehicles active throughout the state.
The State Highway Administration offered the following guidelines for winter driving:
- Slow down. Posted speed limits are for ideal (dry) weather conditions.
- Use extra caution on elevated surfaces, such as bridges, overpasses, and ramps as they are the first to freeze.
- Don't crowd the plow. Stay behind and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and State Highway Administration equipment.
Impact on transportation
The messy road conditions also impacted several MTA routes, including:
- 22: Mondawmin - Bayview
- 26: Patapsco Station - Mondawmin
- 29: Mondawmin - Brooklyn
- 36: Towson Town Center - Fox Ridge
- 37: Old Court - UMBC/Catonsville
- 51: Towson - Downtown
- 71: Downtown - Patapsco Station
- 73: State Center - Patapsco Station
- 75: Patapsco Station - Arundel Mills
- 76: CCBC - Downtown
- 93: Towson - Hunt Valley
- CityLink BLUE: CMS - Johns Hopkins Bayview
- CityLink GREEN: Downtown - Towson
- CityLink NAVY: Mondawmin - Dundalk
- CityLink ORANGE: Essex - West Baltimore MARC
- CityLink PINK: Cedonia - West Baltimore MARC
- CityLink RED: Downtown - Towson/Lutherville
- CityLink YELLOW: Mondawmin - Patapsco
Commuters can track up-to-date service disruptions HERE.
At BWI Marshall Airport, crews worked through the early morning to clear snow and de-ice runways. Officials said the airport is open and operational but flights have been limited.
According to transportation officials, at least 200 flights were canceled or delayed at BWI Airport due to the storm.
Much of the Northeast region experienced severe winter weather throughout the weekend. According to CBS News, American, Delta, Southwest and United Airlines all waived change fees for passengers due to possible weather-related flight disruptions for Mid-Atlantic travel.
"I was checking my phone all night to make sure they didn't have any cancellations," traveler Diane Jones said.
"I was supposed to fly out earlier today Monday and then it got cancelled," said traveler Allayna Safley. "So, they moved me to about 1 o'clock and it just keeps getting delayed."
Sharon Bixby said her travel troubles started Sunday when a delayed flight caused her to miss another.
"We missed our flight to Connecticut last night," Sharon Bixby said. "It was cancelled. So, we just hung up at a hotel here."
Despite the hassle for these travelers, Beverly Foster said her flight to Baltimore was smooth sailing.
"No delays at all. We got in on time," Foster said. "The worst part about Columbus was getting to the airport."
Foster said she bought an extra ticket for Tuesday just in case her Monday flight was canceled. She said thankfully, she didn't need it.
Maryland Snow Day
Some Maryland residents welcomed the snow as a chance to spend time wrapped in a blanket or outside with loved ones.
Dr. Redd suggests playing in the snow for short periods of time and making sure to wear extra layers of clothing. She also warned that your fingers, toes, nose, and ears are at risk of frostbite.
Email your snow day photos to newsroom@wjz.com!
Winter weather resources and safety tips
The Baltimore County Emergency Operations Center opened Sunday night and several warming shelters will be open throughout the week. In Baltimore City, winter shelters will be active through Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Howard County partners with Grassroots Crisis Intervention to provide cold weather shelters. Anne Arundel County also has warming shelters available.
The Baltimore Health Department shared the following cold weather tips:
- Wear multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing.
- Always wear a head covering, like a hat and/or scarf, when outdoors.
- Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcoholic beverages.
- Protect yourself against falls in icy or snowy conditions by walking slowly and avoiding steps or curbs with ice on them.
- Check on those who are most vulnerable, including infants and children, older adults and/or chronically ill.
- If your pet is outdoors, they must be protected by a well-constructed, raised shelter that is dry and draft-free. Sufficient bedding and a door flap must be in place to maintain body heat. Fresh, unfrozen, drinkable water must be provided at all times.
