Snow, rain and slippery roads likely on Friday, Sunday night into Monday

Editor’s note: This story, originally published at 5:28 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2025, was updated at 2:13 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2025, to add information from a Friday afternoon special weather statement and hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service.

It may soon be time to dust off the snow shovel and boots to prepare for the first winter weather of the new year. The National Weather Service has forecasted snow and rain showers Friday afternoon into the evening for the county. More snow is also predicted to arrive Sunday and Monday.

On Friday afternoon, the weather service’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., office, issued a special weather statement about the expected winter weather’s impact on evening commutes in the Washington Metropolitan area.

“Localized bursts of heavier snow are possible most likely between 3 and 6 p.m., where visibility may be reduced to near one-quarter mile and snowfall may coat roadways,” the statement said.

The precipitation is expected to end early Friday evening and temperatures will fall below freezing, according to the statement.

On Thursday afternoon, the weather service’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., office issued a winter weather advisory for portions of central, north central, northeast and northern Maryland from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Montgomery County was not included in the advisory but is expected to see accumulations of less than an inch of snow, according to the weather service’s snowfall outlook map. According to the weather service announcement, the snow will “traverse the region” from the afternoon into the evening and fall for about an hour or two.

The snowfall may cause slippery road conditions that could impact the Friday evening commute, according to the weather service. In addition, drivers may encounter slushy accumulations on untreated paved surfaces in areas that receive heavier bursts of snow mixed with warmer roadway temperatures.

Wintry mix expected Sunday into Monday

After a clear and mostly sunny Saturday, county residents can expect to see more snowfall starting Sunday afternoon. The storm, described as a wintry mix, is forecasted to last until Monday afternoon, according to the weather service.

As of Friday afternoon, the weather service had not released its prediction for snow accumulations for the expected snow event on Sunday and Monday. However, the forecast said there is an 80% chance of precipitation on both days.

On Thursday, the county’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) extended an extreme cold alert until 11 a.m. Friday due to expected wind chill temperatures below 32 degrees. The alert was initially issued for 3 p.m. Wednesday to 3 p.m. Thursday.

With a wind chill below 32 degrees, frostbite can occur. The county is encouraging residents to take extra precautions such as wearing multiple layers of clothing if spending a significant amount of time outdoors.

For information about preparing for cold weather, shelters, animal care and cold-related illnesses, visit the OEMHS website.