A dangerous winter storm continued to bring a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the metro region Sunday, as local jurisdictions mounted snow removal and emergency response efforts.
In Laurel, College Park and Hyattsville, as well as much of Prince George’s County, the forecast called for heavy sleet accumulation Sunday afternoon, with as much as three to five inches possible, according to the National Weather Service. By evening, freezing rain and temperatures as low as 17 degrees were expected to cause up to a 0.01-inch accumulation of ice.
Prince George’s County is operating in “Full Snow Operation Mode” and is urging residents to avoid all driving until roadways have been cleared.
“The county’s snow response operation is fully active. Crews are working around the clock to clear and treat the roadways and public safety remains are top priority,” said County Executive Aisha Braveboy on Sunday morning from the Snow Storm Fern Unified Command Center in College Park. “All county agencies are fully mobilized and operating under a unified command structure.”
The county released a list of emergency warming centers open from 8 a.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. in Chillum, Landover and Forestville. Some centers may remain open overnight at select locations.
Area residents reported icy road conditions throughout the region. On Main Street in Laurel, snowfall began around 2 a.m. Sunday, with three to four inches accumulating by 8:30 a.m. City Mayor Keith R. Sydnor had already declared a state of emergency on Jan. 23, mobilizing the city’s Public Works Department to prepare for roadway clearing.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir reminded residents that seniors and residents with disabilities can request help removing snow from their property by reaching out to the local chapter of the nonprofit Neighbors Helping Neighbors. He also invited residents to report icy sidewalks and unsafe conditions to the city and to check when the streets they live on were last plowed through an interactive map published by the city.
Along Route 1 in Hyattsville, residents reported snow- and ice-covered roadways as of 8:30 a.m. Sunday, and continuing treacherous conditions despite plowing as of midday. A Metro bus was stuck in the snow near the intersection of Route 1 and Longfellow Street for much of the morning.
Additional reporting by Melanie Dzwonchyk and Kit Slack.
