Maryland weather: Winter weather advisory expires as freezing rain ends
A winter weather advisory issued for the Baltimore and Washington D.C. region expired Thursday afternoon as warming temperatures ended the freezing rain.
An ice storm warning remains in effect for Western Maryland until 10 p.m.
The advisory caused schools in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties and Baltimore City to open two hours late Thursday due to wintry precipitation.
The winter weather advisory was lifted in south Baltimore County before 1 p.m. but continued in northern Baltimore County, northwest Howard County, northwest Harford County and northwest Montgomery County. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service are predicting about 0.1 inch of ice total.
Moderate rain is set to continue through the afternoon and evening.
West and north of Baltimore City, freezing rain brings a risk of isolated power outages and downed trees as well as slick roads, NWS meteorologist Eric Taylor said.
“Be prepared for travel delays and the potential for slick roadways tomorrow morning for the morning commute,” Taylor said Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration performed anti-icing operations across the state, including parts of Interstate 95.
“We’re asking for motorists’ patience while our crews are out doing their jobs, clearing paths for drivers,” MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith said. “While we encourage everyone to stay home if travel becomes hazardous, those who must go out should remember that the safest spot for people that have to drive is safely behind our equipment.”
Baltimore County has two freezing weather shelters, which house homeless individuals when the forecast is below 32 degrees. They are located at 9150 Franklin Square Drive in Rosedale and 1811 Woodlawn Drive in Woodlawn and will be open through Dec. 22.
Thursday’s high will be near 44, with a chance of between a half and three-quarters of an inch of precipitation Thursday night and a low near 39. Conditions will be windy with gusts above 20 mph.
Friday will be drier, with a chance of rain before 7 a.m. and a high of 46. Saturday and Sunday, highs will be around 42 and 38, respectively, with mostly sunny skies continuing through Wednesday.
For more winter driving safety tips see MDOT winter fact sheets.
To track anti-icing operations in your local area, the Statewide Transportation Operations Resource Map identifies where MDOT SHA trucks are and where they have been, as well as real-time weather information.
Baltimore Sun reporters Ngan Ho, Giacomo Bologna and Lilly Price contributed to this article.
