Flash freeze, blustery conditions could make driving dangerous following snow storm
A flash freeze advisory is in effect throughout the D.C. region Sunday as temperatures drop rapidly following the morning’s snow storm.
WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said roads are becoming slick as any slush and standing water is rapidly turning into ice.
“Black ice will continue to be a problem on area roadways with temperatures in the 20s, and wind chills in the single digits and teens,” Stinneford said.
A Winter Weather Advisory has been canceled, but the issue for the rest of Sunday will be the cold and the wind.
The Maryland Transportation Authority said a Wind Warning was under effect for the Bay Bridge and the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas ‘Mac’ Middleton Bridge Sunday, urging house trailers, vehicles with roof-mount racks, motorcycles and box trailers to use caution.
Those warnings are issued when wind speeds over the bridge are 30-39 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more or wind gusts persistently exceed 30 mph over a period of 15 mins.
“Blustery and very cold for the rest of the afternoon,” said 7News First Alert meteorologist Matt Ritter. “Wind chills will be in the single digits by this evening,” he said.
He said this will be an issue for the rest of Sunday morning and into the afternoon. Reports show 1 to 3 inches of snow fell along and north of I-70 early Sunday morning.
Charlie Gischlar, the deputy director of communications with the Maryland State Highway Administration, is advising people to stay off the roads if you can. But if you do drive, take it slow on ice and snow, he told WTOP.
Remember, “the speed limits are set for dry conditions, and these won’t be dry conditions overnight. They’re going to be snowy,” he said. If you see some of his agency’s “snow plow drivers or contractors, stay behind them, because they’re literally clearing a path for you.”
Prepare for a possibly icy commute Monday morning, Gisler said. But he added that Maryland roads will be prepared. The state has about “100 trucks that have mobile infrared sensors so we can tell when a road’s about to freeze up. And we can go and strategically deploy the trucks and treat the roadways before they freeze,” he said.
Tim Serrano, Storm Operations Center Manager for The Montgomery County Department of Transportation said they are watching the roads and treating them for slick spots as the temperatures drop.
“As soon as the sun goes down, we know that the the temperatures are going to fall well below freezing into the teens,” Serrano said. “We’re going to have crews available, monitoring those roads overnight, and we’ll be treating those roads as needed, and we’ll make sure to have a good presence out before the morning rush hour tomorrow as well. Just to address any icy conditions.”
It will remain cold out there as the day goes on: Temperatures are around or just above freezing, which means main roads may become slushy and some areas may become icy as temperatures fall below freezing over the next few hours, Stinneford said.
Pay special attention to bridges, overpasses, exit and entrance ramps, and untreated secondary roads, he said.
“Be very careful on elevated roadways,” said 7News First Alert Meteorologist Mark Peña, warning about accumulating ice on the road.
“No matter how much snow you see, it’s not only going to stick around for the rest of Sunday but for most of Monday,” said Peña, adding that Sunday night will mark the coldest night of the season so far.
By Monday morning, temperatures will be in the teens as people head out the door, with wind chills close to zero.
Transportation agencies continue to urge drivers and pedestrians to use extreme caution, especially on secondary roads and sidewalks where snow and ice may linger.
Temperatures will finally climb back above freezing by Tuesday.
Last week, the first snowstorm hit the D.C. region in December for the first time since 2017.
The next time it snows, you may want a “Snowzilla Gauge” to measure the amount of snowfall. WTOP’s Traffic reporter Dave Dildine released the pet project, which is a 3-foot-tall, 6-inch-wide wooden snow stick that will measure winter storms in the D.C. area.
Dildine said the gauge also shows how often, based on snow history records, the region received an inch of snow, two inches, or a foot of snow, for example.
If you’re interested in purchasing a Snowzilla Gauge, email Dave at dave.dildine@wtop.com!
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FORECAST
Mike Stinneford, 7News First Alert Meteorologist
SUNDAY MORNING: WINTER WEATHER ALERT
Snow ending from west to east. About 1-3 inches of snow accumulation.
Becoming windy and colder with temperatures falling through the 20s.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Partly to mostly sunny, windy and cold.
Temperatures holding in the 20s. Wind chill in the single digits.
Highs: 28-32
Wind Chill: 10s & 20s
Winds: Northwest 15-25 mph
Gusts: 35-40 mph
SUNDAY NIGHT: COLD ALERT
Mostly clear & cold
Lows: 18-22
Wind Chill: 5-10
Winds: Northwest 15-20 mph
A very cold night due to wind chills in the single digits. The bus stop and morning commute will be very cold and those outside should dress in many layers and cover exposed skin to protect from frostbite.
MONDAY: COLD ALERT
Partly sunny
Highs: 28-34
Wind Chill: 20s
Winds: Northwest 10-15 mph
Gusts: 20-25 mph
Morning temperatures in the single digits will only climb into the upper 20s to low 30s. Many neighborhoods will be subfreezing all day long.
TUESDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: 32-36
Winds: West 5-10 mph
Sunny skies continue as temperatures finally warm above freezing for the first time since late Sunday.