Montgomery County is expected to receive anywhere from 4 to 8 inches of snow Wednesday as the winter storm continues throughout the day, according to National Weather Service meteorologist James Lee.
Lee said the western portion of the county and the upcounty area are expected to receive more snow from the storm. The system will produce heavy snowfall during the morning and then taper off later Wednesday afternoon and turn into flurries this evening, Lee said.
He said it’s unusual to receive this much snow this late in the season—Wednesday is the second day of spring.
“We have snow in this area through March and into April, but certainly the magnitude of the storm this late in the season is a little bit of an anomaly,” Lee said. “Usually if we get late winter [or] early spring storms it’s around 2 to 4 inches. This is a little bit heavier than that.”
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning that’s scheduled to be in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Temperatures will be in the low-30s throughout the day and Lee said the snow will be heavy and wet.
Montgomery County Public Schools as well as federal, county and local government offices and facilities were closed Wednesday due to the storm. Although the snow wasn’t covering streets or sidewalks early Wednesday morning, the storm began to pick up around 9 a.m. and rapidly coated streets in the Chevy Chase and Silver Spring area with snow.
The Capital Weather Gang predicts from 2 to 6 inches of snow to fall Wednesday, with areas outside the Washington, D.C., core expected to receive greater snowfall totals.
Metrorail is running on a modified weekday schedule Wednesday, while Metrobus service is operating on a “severe snow plan“, which significantly limits bus service due to treacherous road conditions.