BY REBECCA BENNETT — The National Weather Service (NWS) advises commuters to prepare for slippery roads Monday morning. A freezing rain advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday for the Washington, D.C. Metro area, including Prince George’s County.
The impact of the storm will affect the morning commute, says NWS, and could coat untreated roads, sidewalks, and vehicles with a thin glaze of ice.
Prince George’s County Public Schools say they are “code orange” for Monday and will open with a two hour delay.
According to the City of Hyattsville, “public works crews will be on duty after midnight tonight monitoring [city] road conditions and treating road surfaces as needed.”
Prince George’s County crews are also preparing for bad weather. “Approximately 210 vehicles will be deployed at midnight to treat [county] roadways before the morning rush hour,” says Prince George’s County Department of Public Works & Transportation Director Darrell Mobley. “County crews will treat primary and major collector roadways first then move into residential areas. Crews will also be monitoring the bridges, ramps and intersections to ensure they are free of icy conditions.”
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) says “crews are closely monitoring the storm, pre-treating roadways and they are ready to respond in full force as soon as wintry precipitation begins to fall. With freezing rain in the forecast, SHA crews will attack the storm using salt, salt brine and sand to provide additional traction for vehicles and assist with deicing the roads.”
SHA advises drivers to avoid to delay traveling Monday morning. Prince George’s County encourages drives to add extra traveling time, drive slowly, stay alert, and keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, and uses caution on bridges, ramps, and overpasses.
