Via National Weather Service
Updated at 9:55 a.m. – The snow is forecast to start falling after 1 p.m. Friday and it may not stop falling until just before 1 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
With that in mind, the federal government and Montgomery County government have elected to close all offices and facilities at noon Friday.
Here’s what else you need to know:
FORECAST
The snow will start falling after 1 p.m. and less than an inch of daytime snow accumulation is possible, according to the weather service.
Tonight, the storm will become worse with wind gusts as high as 37 mph, heavy snow and some thunder possible. There will be widespread blowing snow, creating difficult and unsafe driving conditions. The region could see 10 to 14 inches of snow accumulation Friday night alone.
The snow will continue into Saturday and sleet could mix in during parts of the morning and early afternoon. After 1 p.m., the snowfall will again be heavy with more thunder possible. Blizzard conditions will remain and another 10 to 14 inches of snow and sleet accumulation is possible during the daytime hours.
Another 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected to fall Saturday night and it’s expected to taper off around midnight.
Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high near 34 degrees, but still windy with winds 8 to 14 mph and gusts as high as 21 mph.
PARKING
Parking will be free in county garages and lots starting at noon Friday until at least 9 a.m. Monday.
The county on Thursday declared a snow emergency that will take effect 3 p.m. Friday, meaning parking is prohibited along all county roads marked as Snow Emergency Routes and all vehicles on the road must have all-weather tires or tire chains.
Because the state has declared a State of Emergency, taxicabs operating in the county during the county’s snow emergency are allowed to charge $2.50 extra per trip.
The county is asking residents to park all vehicles off the streets and that vehicles that must remain on the street be parked on the even-numbered side of the street.
The county says vehicles parked in courts or cul-de-sacs should be parked on the left side of the street as a driver enters the cul-de-sac. Cars parked in the center of the cul-de-sac will significantly hamper snow clearing operations.
A snow emergency in the City of Rockville requires all vehicles parked on roads within the city to be removed from those roads by noon Friday.
WHEN WILL THEY PLOW MY STREET?
If you don’t live on a primary county or state road, probably not until Sunday.
That’s when the county’s Highway Services division hopes to be working at “maximum” snow removal effort, with 500 pieces of equipment, 275 employees and outside contractors.
The blizzard conditions Saturday will make plowing difficult and the blowing snow could force crews to replow major streets. The county also expects to ramp up snow hauling operations in the county’s central business districts on Sunday.
OTHER CLOSURES
Metrorail will close at 11 p.m. Friday and remain closed all day Saturday and Sunday. The system plans to protect hundreds of railcars by storing them in its tunnels during the snow.
Metrobus began service Friday on a “severe” snow weather plan and all service will be suspended Friday at 5 p.m.
The county’s Ride On bus service will be suspended at 7 p.m. Friday and there will be no Ride On service Saturday and Sunday.
Montgomery County Public Schools are closed Friday and all school and community use activities in school buildings are canceled Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
All Montgomery Parks’ facilities will close Friday at noon through Sunday. All programs, classes and events are canceled. Updates, including information on road and trail closures, can be found on the department’s website.
Montgomery County Recreation will close all community and swim centers at 2 p.m. Friday and will announce Saturday and Sunday closures later.
Montgomery County liquor stores will close at 3 p.m. Friday and remain closed Saturday and Sunday.
STAYING INFORMED
Signing up for Alert Montgomery is a good way to start.
The county’s informational call center, MC311, opened at 6 a.m. Friday and will remain open throughout the weekend. You can call by dialing 311 or 240-777-0311.
Also follow Bethesda Beat as we’ll post local storm updates throughout the weekend.
