Updated 1:25 p.m. – The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Montgomery County and the entire region with forecasts calling for up to an inch of snow to fall Friday night.
The advisory will go into effect at 6 p.m. Friday until midnight.
Snow showers are most likely between 6 and 8 p.m. in Washington, D.C.’s northern and western suburbs and between 8 and 11 p.m. inside the Capital Beltway, the weather service said.
Below freezing temperatures mean any snow that falls is likely to stick on roads, which could cause issues for the evening rush hour.
The State Highway Administration (SHA) is urging drivers to adjust driving times “to avoid being caught in a snow squall in rush hour periods.”
In a Friday press release, SHA Administrator Gregory Johnson said snow that coincides with rush hour periods is typically the most difficult to handle for crews applying salt to roads because those crews are stuck in the same traffic as drivers.
The Montgomery County school system canceled all school activities in school buildings Friday night. Community use activities in school buildings can continue as scheduled.
Andrew Zuckerman, the school system’s chief operating officer, tweeted the school system is concerned Friday’s snow could mean a repeat of Jan. 20, when about an inch of snow during the evening rush hour led to numerous accidents, impassable roads, bumper-to-bumper traffic and commutes that lasted into early the next morning.
Concerned that freezing roads & pending snow will lead to repeat of Jan 20. Out of extra caution we are canceling evening activities.
— Andrew Zuckerman (@MCPSOperations) February 12, 2016
