Updated at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday — Snow overnight has closed Montgomery County Public Schools, the Montgomery County government and the federal government on Tuesday.
All school and community activities in school buildings are also cancelled and MCPS has also closed its administrative offices. All essential county employees are required to report to work, but county government-run recreation centers, government buildings, libraries and other facilities will be closed.
The county has also suspended all parking enforcement, hoping residents will move their cars off the road and into garages to clear the way for snow plows.
Police are urging drivers to avoid the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and West Virginia Avenue, where there has been water pipe break on Tuesday morning. WSSC says it’s not their water main. MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said a pipe broke at 7935 Wisconsin Avenue, home of the Benihana restaurant.
The winter storm that hit the D.C. region on Monday night was expected to bring 5-10 inches of snow to southern and central Montgomery County. According to the National Weather Service, 3.5 inches fell by 6 a.m. near the Dalecarlia Reservoir.
Some snow is expected to fall on Tuesday morning.
Metrobus has suspended service until further notice because of the road conditions. Ride On will operate on reduced service.
Metrorail will operate on a Saturday schedule, meaning additional time between trains to allow for snow-clearing operations.
Trash and recycling pick-ups in Montgomery County will now slide two days this week because of the Presidents’ Day holiday on Monday. That means regular Monday pick-ups will be made Wednesday. Regular Friday pick-ups will be made Sunday, Feb. 22.
A Snow Emergency Plan was put into effect for Montgomery County on Monday night and the federal government announced its offices in the region would be closed Tuesday.
Roads in the area were in poor condition soon after snow started falling on Monday evening. Montgomery County Police and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service reported a significant increase in vehicle collisions on Monday. An early Tuesday morning wreck on the inner loop of the Beltway near Connecticut Avenue had all lanes shut down.
“Travel tonight and tomorrow morning should be delayed since it could take SHA crews through noon Tuesday to get roads to bare pavement,” said State Highway Administrator Melinda Peters on Monday afternoon. “The expected snow, in conjunction with bitterly cold temperatures, could create very difficult travel conditions. SHA is asking motorists to plan ahead — take care of shopping and errands prior to Monday evening and avoid travel overnight Monday and Tuesday morning.”
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation said it would start plowing residential streets at sunrise, which it hopes will help melt away some of the snow and ice that accumulated in sub-freezing temperatures.
