Sunday's slush turns to Monday's ice
CLOSINGS AND DELAYS:
A number of school systems have announced delayed openings for Monday.
Get the full list of closings and delays on WTOP.com.
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Dangerous cold, snow showers for the weekend
WASHINGTON — It is going to get dangerously cold around the region this weekend. Not only are we going to have some of the coldest temperatures we have seen in over a year across the region, but the bone chilling winds are going to be the main culprit in this big chill. So grab a loved one this Valentine’s Day weekend and hunker down inside, because it is going to be brutally cold outside.
Friday was almost a practice day, because by the time we get to Sunday, it will feel a lot colder. Clear skies will continue into the evening with just a few clouds building overnight. Temperatures Friday night fell into the teens.
Saturday, winds shifted out of the south as high pressure scooted off the coast. That pushed our temperature to around 40 degrees! There was some sunshine to start, but that was short-lived as another arctic cold front approaches the area, increasing the cloud cover across the region.
Read more on WTOP.com.
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DELAY TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE. There are numerous spin-outs in Central Maryland. Crews continue to treat the roads. #MdTrafficby MD State Highway Adm via twitter 2/15/2015 1:29:18 AM
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Dozens of accidents on Capital Beltway. Inner Loop BLOCKED at Connecticut Ave. #DCTrafficby Dave Dildine via twitter 2/15/2015 1:29:41 AM
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A flash freeze is occurring behind the snow squalls, leading to incredibly icy roads. Not a night to try to get your vehicle out of a ditch!by Mike Stinneford via twitter 2/15/2015 1:30:18 AM -
Impressive wind gusts with these snow squalls! A gust to 48 just reported at Andrews AFB.by Mike Stinneford via twitter 2/15/2015 1:30:19 AM
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Snow rapidly exiting the metro area. Roads will be treacherous all night as temperatures plummet. High winds overnight may cause damage.by Mike Stinneford via twitter 2/15/2015 1:30:20 AM
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Warming centers open as temperatures plummetWASHINGTON — It is going to be dangerously cold over the next 72 hours. Some places will feel like it is 20 degrees below zero.
That means there is concern about hypothermia, and getting out of the cold could mean the difference between life or death for some people.
There are warming centers open this weekend to serve the less fortunate.
Details on WTOP.com.
Warming centers are available around the region as temperatures drop to dangerous lows. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) -
Traffic Alert: The Beltway Inner Loop is shut down after River Road due to a major accident that blocks all lanes of travel. Reports of ice as a contributing factor.
Traffic
WTOP -
MoCo Delays, Closings & Other Info Due to Winter Storms & Emergencies montgomerycountymd.gov/mcg/emergency/… incl Power Outages, Road status & moreby Pete Piringer via twitter 2/15/2015 12:39:19 PM -
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Traffic / Weather: #Wind = COLD = #ICE. Caution, especially elevated surfaces, +extra time+reduced speeds #dctraffic #mdtraffic #vatrafficby WTOP Traffic via twitter 2/15/2015 1:01:20 PM -
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Please continue to stay indoors and off the road today! Many roads are snow/ice covered due to blowing snow and extreme cold.by College Park Fire via twitter 2/15/2015 1:14:39 PM -
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Advisory: Reduced visibility on area traffic lights due to icing. Icy conditions on some road surfaces.Please drive cautiously. #vatrafficby LoudounSheriff via twitter 2/15/2015 3:54:18 PM -
What to do if your car breaks down in the cold
WASHINGTON — On a windy and cold Sunday morning, drivers had extra company on the road: Safety patrols from the Virginia Department of Transportation traveled I-395 looking for motorists who needed help.
Before leaving the house, you should have a fully-charged cell phone and a mobile charger for the car. Here's what else you should know if your car breaks down on the road.
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Prolonged exposure to freezing cold dangerous to your healthWASHINGTON -- The combination of frigid temperatures and high winds can do more than down power lines and freeze pipes. It can be downright dangerous to your health.
In the extreme cold, you have to worry about frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite can sneak up on you, and the National Weather Service says all it takes is 30 minutes of exposure when the wind chill is minus 20 for the telltale signs to appear.
“The person with frostbite will start saying ‘I feel numbness, sometimes tingling, even itching or burning'” says Dr. Suzie Miller, an ER physician at INOVA Fairfax Hospital.
Read more at WTOP.com.
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Icy roads cause problems in Maryland, greater D.C.
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — Icy conditions caused by frigid temperatures contributed to numerous problems on highways in Maryland and the metropolitan Washington area.
Snowsqualls that moved through the area Saturday evening caused whiteout conditions on Interstate 270 in Frederick and Montgomery counties and throughout the region, followed by snow-covered roads that made driving treacherous and slowed speeds on the highway to 20 mph or less on long stretches.
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Manassas building collapses amid high winds; no injuries
MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — A century-old building in historic downtown Manassas has collapsed, likely a result of high winds that swept through the region.
The collapse occurred Saturday at about 9 p.m. at 9414 Battle St.
City spokeswoman Patty Prince said no one was injured, but 14 people were evacuated from nearby apartments as a precaution.
Read more on WTOP.com.
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Winter Storm Watch in effect for Monday
There could be more weather coming to the D.C. region.
A Wind Chill advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday.
Then, a Winter Storm watch will kick in at 6 p.m. Monday and head through the Tuesday morning commute.
The region could see a few inches of snow before the storm is done.
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Expect delays at Dulles Airport due to burst pipe
WASHINGTON — Dulles International Airport is operating under limited arrival and departures Monday morning.
A pipe burst around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night in the FAA tower, causing an evacuation and a temporary grounding of departures.
Christopher Paolino with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says crews are still working to get the tower back to normal operations.
No estimate on when things will be restored. Read More -
Looking ahead to another possible snowstorm Monday
WASHINGTON -- A fierce wall of blinding snow bombarded the region late Saturday, freezing highway drivers and Valentine diners in their tracks. The brief bout with white-out could be a precursor to a more significant snowstorm that is forecast to strike by nightfall on President's
Day.Saturday’s intense snow squall roared across the Appalachian Mountains, bringing high winds and blizzard-like conditions to the metro area between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The brief-lived snow burst caused travel conditions to deteriorate rapidly. Hundreds of accidents and hours-long traffic jams were reported. Some backups lasted past midnight. Temperatures plummeted behind the squall, which caused the snowfall to flash-freeze on the roadways. In most locations, the snowfall lasted under 30 minutes.
A serious accident occurred on an icy stretch of the Beltway in Montgomery County shortly before midnight when a pickup careened into two paramedics responding to a wreck near River Road. Six people were taken to the hospital.
Winds gusted over 50 miles per hour over much of the region after the passage of the squall. Reagan National Airport saw a wind gust to 52 miles per hour. A 68 mile per hour gust was recorded by an automated weather station in Germantown. An anemometer at Dulles Airport recorded a gust to 58
miles per hour around 3 a.m.The strong, arctic winds downed numerous trees and power lines. In Bethesda, Massachusetts Avenue was closed near Sangamore Road through Sunday afternoon with a large tree blocking the road. Trees brought down wires on nearby Bradley Boulevard, forcing police to block the road near Burning Tree Road. A tall evergreen was felled by high winds in Cleveland Park along 30th
Street NW, narrowly missing a nearby rowhouse.The high winds also caused minor structural damage overnight. In Manassas, the dilapidated wall of an old building collapsed onto Battle Street. There were no injuries reported.
The bitterly cold, northwesterly winds resulted in sub-zero wind chills early on Sunday. On Sunday morning, the wind chill was as low as -19 degrees below zero at Dulles Airport and -10 degrees below zero at National Airport. The air temperature dropped to 6 degrees above zero at Dulles,
breaking previous record low for the date set back in 1965.Localized power outages occurred as well. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, more than 4,700 Pepco customers were without power. Dominion Virginia reported about 2,200 customers were without power in Northern Virginia as of the same time.
Washington’s late rendezvous with winter comes replete with bitterly cold temperatures and increasing odds for accumulating snow. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for another, more powerful storm system that could drop five inches of snow or more across parts of the area late Monday and Tuesday. Forecasters warn it could be the highest single-snowfall of the season for parts of the area.
Historically, Washington has seen a number of sizable storms around the Presidents’ Day holiday including a blizzard in 1979 and a record-breaking snowstorm in 2003.
(WTOP/Dave Dildine)
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-
ST. MARYS-CALVERT-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY-
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD-ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF---WASHINGTON---ANNAPOLIS---WALDORF---
ST MARYS CITY---ROCKVILLE---COLUMBIA---ELLICOTT CITY---
ALEXANDRIA---FALLS CHURCH
342 AM EST MON FEB 16 2015
---WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING---
---WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING
TO NOON EST TUESDAY---
* PRECIPITATION TYPE---SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS---4 TO 8 INCHES.
* TIMING---SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP MONDAY EVENING AND CONTINUE
THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT.
* WIND CHILL---AS LOW AS 12 BELOW.
* TEMPERATURES---4 TO 24 ABOVE.
* WINDS---NORTHEAST 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.
* IMPACTS---THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS THAT CAN QUICKLY
CAUSE HYPOTHERMIA AND FROST BITE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.
BEGINNING MONDAY EVENING---ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND
SLIPPERY WITH VISIBILITIES BEING REDUCED TO ONE HALF MILE OR
LESS AT TIMES. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW
VISIBILITY WILL MAKE TRAVELLING DANGEROUS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS---
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL---KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT---
FOOD---AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS---MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
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Wind chill advisory is in effect until 10a.m. Feels like temperatures sub zero. Don't forget to keep pets in. #dcwx http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B99ipQCCAAAF550.png
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D.C. has only had 3.7" of snow so far this season, with a deficit of more than 8" We should make that up by Tues AM. http://t.co/lj3yQN1xNC
Feb. 16, 2015- Reply
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Brrr! It feels like -5 in D.C. Show us your temp readings using #WTOP http://t.co/htD0YLdXjk http://t.co/JDfykaHnw3
Feb. 16, 2015- Reply
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Stunning sorbet colored sky this bitter morning. This time tomorrow we will have inches of snow on the ground!!! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B99tgicCQAAVo-q.png
by Brian van de Graaff via twitter 2/16/2015 12:00:46 PM -
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Cool breezes make for bitter chills. Winds calm and clouds increase as highs peak in the mid 20s. Lt snow by pm rush! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B99vMJOCcAEfbOx.png
by Brian van de Graaff via twitter 2/16/2015 12:08:10 PM -
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8°F - it's the kind of cold that wakes you up in the morning. #cold #V60 #weather #WTOP #volvo http://t.co/nU3pZh0F1w
Feb. 16, 2015- Reply
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Tips for walking in ice and snowWASHINGTON -- The Snow & Ice Management Association has some tips for those who are planning to trek through the inches of snowfall expected to come down on the region Monday evening and into Tuesday."The most dangerous part of a snow storm may be the day or days following the snow when sunny skies and higher temperatures during the day melt the snow, and lower temperatures at night refreeze the melted snow, creating a cycle that could continue for days, a hazardous condition for walking and driving," Snow & Ice Management Association Executive Director Martin B. Tirado said in a news release.Here are tips from the association:
- Wear proper footwear. Proper footwear should place the entire foot on the surface of the ground and have visible treads. Avoid a smooth sole and opt for a heavy treaded shoe with a flat bottom.
- Watch your balance. Many slip and falls occur in the days after a snowfall because of melting and refreezing conditions that create ice.
- Plan ahead. While walking on snow or ice on sidewalks or in parking lots, walk consciously. Instead of looking down, look up and see where your feet will move next to anticipate ice or an uneven surface. Occasionally scan from left to right to ensure you are not in the way of vehicles or other hazards.
- Conditions nice for ice. Watch for areas where melting and refreezing may exist and for black ice. These areas may include parking lot drainage areas, roof gutters, piles of snow as well as overhangs, between parking spaces or buildings, or on walkways.
- Be careful when you shift your weight. When stepping off a curb or getting into a car, be careful since shifting your weight may cause an imbalance and result in a fall.
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Mount Vernon is OPEN today for festivities and fun! A few activities have been moved indoors. Free admission for all.Feb. 16, 2015
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Va. bracing for up to 1 foot of snow
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — With the biggest snowstorm of the season forecast, Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the Virginia Department of Transportation is up for the challenge.
Up to 1 foot of snow could blanket the far western region of the state Monday and Tuesday, with 4 to 9 inches expected throughout the rest of the state.
Read more on WTOP.com.
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Airlines cancel flights amid winter storms in Northeast US
DALLAS (AP) — Hundreds of flights have been canceled over the long Presidents Day weekend as a winter storm rolled through parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
Southwest Airlines Co. canceled more than 150 flights on Monday. Spokeswoman Michelle Agnew says Dallas-based Southwest expects the number of cancellations to rise throughout the day.
Read more on WTOP.com.
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