Montgomery County residents awoke Monday to the first official snow day of the new year, with up to 6 inches blanketing the area as of 9:45 a.m. and more to come this evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow totals in some county communities as reported by the weather service are:
- Olney – 4 inches
- Rockville – 5 inches
- White Oak – 5 inches
- Four Corners in Silver Spring – 5.5 inches
- Damascus – 6 inches
During midmorning, snowfall rates are expected at 1 to 2 inches per hour, according to the weather service. Some sleet and freezing rain are also expected to mix in with the heavy snow. A lull in snowfall is expected in the late morning through early afternoon.
By the late afternoon, a second round of snow is expected to start and last into the evening, according to the weather service, and bring an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow.
Parking rules
On Sunday evening the county declared a “Snow Emergency” to take effect at midnight, according to a news release. The following parking rules are in effect:
- Parking is prohibited on county roads marked as “Snow Emergency Route” and in county parking lots that are designated as “Snow Emergency Lots”;
- All vehicles should be parked off-street in a driveway or garage;
- Cars that are parked on the street should be parked on the odd-numbered side of the street on Monday and moved to the even-numbered side on Tuesday if the snow emergency remains in effect;
- Free parking is available in county garages. All fees for county parking garages are waived during declared snow emergencies. Residents are encouraged to use the county garages for off-street parking.
When will my street be plowed?
The county is also encouraging residents to postpone any unnecessary travel as the storm pushes through, according to a social media post from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). Staying off the roads helps snowplow crews from MCDOT and the Maryland Department of Transportation make progress in clearing routes.
To stay up to date on the plow progress, snow removal status and to access winter weather safety tips, visit the county’s Winter Storm Information portal at this link.
For real-time tracking of State Highway Administration winter weather response vehicles plowing state-owned roads, check out the state’s tracking website.
According to MCDOT, roadway crews are plowing major roadways but due to heavy snowfall, the roads have become covered over with snow quickly.
Closures
Across the county, the snowstorm has caused closures from county facilities to the courts and schools.
Montgomery County Public Schools announced Sunday afternoon that all schools and offices are closed Monday.
All activities, field trips and programs in schools and on school grounds, including child care programs and community use activities, are also canceled, MCPS announced virtual learning is not available during the closure, according to the statement. MPCS announced the closure via email and on social media with a video, around 4:40 p.m.
According to MCPS, the closure only includes Monday, and decisions concerning school openings on Tuesday “will be made when more information is available.”
The county government is also closed on Monday. The closure includes all government facilities such as libraries and recreation and senior centers, according to a county press release. The closure does not impact essential personnel, who are scheduled to work on-site and their regularly scheduled times.
The Montgomery County circuit and district courts in Rockville are closed Monday, according to the Maryland Courts website.
State offices are closed due to the inclement weather, according to the Maryland Department of General Services.
Transportation
Drivers should be aware that Sligo Creek Parkway between Maple and New Hampshire avenues has shut down as of 9 a.m. Monday morning, according to Maryland-National Capital Park Police.
For those who use public transportation, Ride On buses will be operating a holiday service schedule with reduced service, according to the county release. Bus commuters should expect delays and detours due to the inclement weather. In addition, riders should check the Ride On website for information about route changes and trip adjustments.
Metrobus is also operating in a severe snow plan for Monday with about 42 out of 193 bus routes operating. For more information about specific routes and service visit this link.
Metrorail service is operating normally.
Trash collection
All county-provided trash and recycling collections are canceled for Monday. As a result, all collections will follow a slide schedule this week with Monday collections occurring Tuesday and the last pickup on Saturday.
The county’s transfer station and recycling center are closed Monday as well, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
