The Washington region is gearing up for a major winter storm that could bring six to 10 inches of snow and ice, with communities across Prince George’s County among the hardest hit. Here are five things you need to know ahead of the storm.
1. When will the storm begin?
Snow is expected to begin late Saturday night—likely after midnight, according to the latest projections from the National Weather Service. At that time, the chance of precipitation is 100%, with temperatures dipping as low as 18 degrees and an accumulation of up to 10 inches of snow possible by Sunday afternoon.
Conditions are expected to worsen later Sunday, when sleet, freezing rain and low temperatures could compact the snow, creating slick, slippery and frozen roadways.
2. Are power outages possible?
Yes. Pepco and Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) customers should prepare for the possibility of power outages.
Local power and utility companies are projecting the potential for large-scale outages across the metro Washington, Maryland and Virginia areas, according to Power Systems Electric, a Rockville-based service provider for homeowner associations, condominiums and apartment buildings.
Exelon Corp., the parent company of Pepco and BGE, is deploying an additional 100 line workers to support damage and restoration efforts in the District, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Pepco and BGE are urging customers to report outages via their websites, mobile apps or by phone.
3. Has a state of emergency been declared?
Yes. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency Friday and also requested an emergency declaration from the federal government, enabling the state to expedite assistance during and after the storm.
The state of emergency allows for greater coordination among state agencies, including the departments of energy, health and transportation, as well as the Maryland State Police and the Maryland National Guard, which has mobilized 100 personnel.
Guard members will help local governments with transportation and other support needed for public safety and post-storm recovery.
Prince George’s County and local municipalities such as Laurel have also declared state of emergency warnings, while College Park and Hyattsville have issued winter weather alerts.
4. How long will it be before streets are cleared?
Residents of incorporated municipalities—such as Laurel, College Park or Hyattsville—should expect their departments of public works to handle snow removal, with an initial focus on snow emergency routes.
Those living in unincorporated areas of Prince George’s County, Howard County or Anne Arundel County will be served by county public works departments. Residents in HOAs or apartment communities should expect snow removal to be handled by contracted private companies.
Counties and municipalities are urging residents to move vehicles off snow routes and major thoroughfares and to use garages when possible.
In Prince George’s County, the Department of Public Works and Transportation will aim to provide “passable” conditions on more than 1,900 miles of county-maintained roads. The forecast is likely to trigger the county’s “blizzard operation,” which involves removing snow with heavy equipment.
Officials ask residents to wait 24 hours after precipitation ends before calling 311 to report roadway conditions. Residents seeking real-time updates on road conditions can visit this tracker.
5. How should I prepare?
By now, residents should be stocked with essentials—ideally enough to last through Monday, when snow accumulation is expected to stop and removal operations should be well underway.
Until then, the state has issued guidance recommending residents:
- Prepare an emergency kit.
- Charge all mobile devices.
- Winterize homes by insulating pipes.
- Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Have a snow shovel and rock salt ready.
Honorable Mentions
- Prince George’s County announced Saturday that its warming shelters will close at 6 p.m. and remain closed Sunday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Jan. 26.
- During a snow emergency, call 911 for life-threatening situations or carbon monoxide exposure; dial #77 for roadside assistance on state highways; and call 311 for downed trees or snow removal on county roads.
- In the City of Laurel, residents with snow removal questions can call 301-725-0088; the city’s public works department is staffed during snow emergencies.
- For information on College Park’s snow removal plan, visit its site; for Hyattsville, visit its site.