A winter storm warning remains in effect through 7 p.m. as snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected to pelt the county throughout the day.
Updated forecasts predict a snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches before freezing rain arrives in the evening and temperatures start to warm.
County schools and federal, state and county offices were closed.
Pepco said 3,300 customers were without power in Gaithersburg briefly Wednesday morning after a large tree fell and damaged power lines. The utility’s outage map shows less than 30 customers still affected.
A few customers were affected around 8:30 a.m. near Silver Spring and on Quince Orchard Road near Gaithersburg, with restoration expected by noon.
Power companies say freezing rain later in the day could cause more problems as trees and limbs weighted down by the precipitation could topple onto power lines.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation reported 2 inches of snow at around 8:30 a.m. at its Public Safety headquarters in Gaithersburg.
Crews were salting roads throughout the county as early as 4 a.m.
Maryland State Police reported a Snow Emergency Plan is in effect for the county. All vehicles traveling on designated state snow emergency routes must have chains, snow tires or all-season radial tires and vehicles parked on these roads could be being towed.
Most major roads were open, with lighter traffic, while neighborhood streets were snow covered at mid-morning.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer reported nearly two dozen collisions on roads across the county, none with serious injuries. Crews responded to a fire at at Rockville auto shop at 638 Lofstrand Lane, all occupants made it out safely.
Piringer reported East West Highway in particular was “treacherous,” with slippery conditions and a few collisions through Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Silver Spring.
County schools closed Tuesday night, and having exhausted its snow days will have to make it up on June 5, originally scheduled as a professional planning day.
Montgomery College is also closed.
County government closed as of 7 a.m., though essential personnel must still report.
Ride On buses are operating on their normal schedule, but delays are to be expected. Metrorail service is operating with less frequent trains.
Residents are asked to avoid putting trash cans and recycling bins at their curbs as pickup has been canceled for today. The modified trash pickup schedule will have collection for Wednesday customers on Friday, Thursday customers on Saturday and Friday customers on Sunday.
