Snow to Fall Tonight, Outages More Likely After Wind Storm

Update 9:30 p.m. -  The National Weather Service has lowered estimates for accumulation to 1 to 4 inches. The rain and sleet mix is still expected to turn to snow around midnight with peak snowfall between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Original Post 2/21 4:56 p.m. - The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Prince George's County starting at 9 p.m. tonight until 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The wintry mix of rain and sleet is predicted to start this evening and is expected to turn to snow after midnight; with an estimated 2 to 5 inches of snow and sleet accumulation.

The heaviest snowfall is expected between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Tuesday morning. Temperatures in the mid-30s Monday night will fall into the upper 20s Tuesday morning.

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) said they're preparing with salt, plows and crews but that pre-treatment of roads isn't feasible—the rain that precedes the snow will wash away the chemicals.

“If you have a choice not to travel tonight, please don’t,” said SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen in a release this afternoon. “Our crews will work throughout the night, but depending on when it stops snowing, all routes may not be completely cleared by morning rush hour.  Please check conditions before driving in the morning and allow plenty of extra travel time.”

Here are some safety tips from the SHA for weathering the storm when driving.

• Fill your gas tank and windshield washer fluid.
• Clear your car of snow so that you can see and be seen by other drivers.
• Make sure your cell phone is charged.
• Have a flashlight with charged batteries, sand or kitty litter, and a small shovel in case you get stuck in snow.
• Make sure your all season radials or snow tires are properly inflated and are in good condition.
• Make sure your vehicle’s windshield wipers are working.
• Tell someone the route you are taking in case of an emergency.
• While traveling, give snow plows plenty of room.  The plowed road is behind the trucks, so stay well back and drive on a cleared road.

After —including the the busiest day in the Prince George's County Fire Department's history—branches and trees have been weakened, and the heavy mix of ice and snow increases the likelihood of outages. BGE said they are closely monitoring the storm.

“While BGE is prepared to begin restoring electric service as safely and as quickly as possible, hazardous road conditions will extend the travel times of restoration crews which could extend outage durations,” said A. Christopher Burton, BGE's senior vice president of gas and electric operations and planning, in a release.

As with any weather emergency when outages are likely, people are urged to have the following items on hand:

• Flashlights (not candles)
• Fresh batteries
• Battery operated clock radio
• Corded telephone
• Fully charged cell phone
• Non-perishable foods
• Blanket

A few other precautions that may not affect everybody, but are important to note include:

• Keep outdoor gas pipes and meters clear of ice and snow using a broom to gently clear the area, not a shovel.
• Remove icicles from the roof and gutter where they may drop onto the meter.
• In the case that a meter is encased in ice, call BGE at 410-685-0123.
• Use generators in well ventilated areas. In one of January's storms, A to the hospital after getting sick with Carbon Monoxide while using a generator in their home. 
• For customers relying on well water, filling a bathtub with water in advance of severe weather is strongly encouraged.

Customers are always reminded to stay away from downed power lines and to report them immediately by calling 410-685-0123.  Power outages should be reported by calling BGE’s automated system at 877-778-2222.