Montgomery County Provides Update on Snow Operations

For Immediate Release: Monday, January 6, 2025

The region's first major snowstorm in three years continues to create hazardous travel conditions.  A snow emergency remains in effect, with parking restrictions in place.  Montgomery County Government and many local governments throughout the DMV are closed. 

Montgomery County Public Schools announced they will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 7. Because of the MCPS closures, Recreation programs are affected:

• All scheduled programs, classes and activities are canceled.
• Recreation, senior and aquatic centers will be open for drop-in activities only, dependent on Montgomery County Government operations.
• Aquatic centers will open at 8:30 a.m., dependent on Montgomery County Government operations.
• Senior centers will open at 10 a.m., dependent on Montgomery County Government operations.

“This is our first major snowstorm in several years and we have been preparing for this event for several days.

Dedicated County employees from multiple departments have been working to address the storm's impact on our residents and businesses, and I want to sincerely thank them for their efforts," said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are making good progress clearing our primary roads and streets. Residents can help by staying off the roads, moving their vehicles out of snow emergency lanes, and removing snow from sidewalks in residential areas.”

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) crews are actively plowing and salting primary roads The Storm Operations Center is open and will remain activated throughout the storm.

MCDOT is responsible for clearing snow on 5,300 miles of County roads, including 1,608 of emergency primary routes and 3,700 of residential roads. Primary routes are kept clear as a priority for emergency vehicle access. The Maryland State Highway Administration is responsible for clearing all State roads in the County, including those designated by numbers. Residents can check County plowing operations and submit service requests for missed streets after plowing operations end on the County Snow Portal.

With freezing temperatures, ongoing snowfall and active plow operations, travel remains dangerous. MCDOT urges residents to stay off roadways unless travel is absolutely necessary. Those who must travel should reduce speed and carry a flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.

County Ride On transit services are operating on a holiday schedule with reduced frequency. Some routes are experiencing weather-related delays and detours. Ride On Flex service has been suspended.

County-provided trash and recycling collections are canceled today. Collections will resume on a sliding schedule, with the last collection taking place on Saturday, Jan. 11.

During a period of extreme cold temperatures and snowy conditions, it is very important to check on neighbors, especially older adults and those living alone. Staff from the Department of Health and Human Services and community-based partners are reaching out to unhoused individuals and urging them to seek shelter. There are emergency shelters open. Residents concerned about the well-being of someone who is unhoused can call the 24-hour Homeless Information Line at 240-907-2688. Outreach partners will attempt to locate the individual and urge them to come indoors to a shelter. If someone is seeking shelter, call the Crisis Center at 240-777-4000.

The County’s informational call center, MC311, is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can contact MC311 by calling 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 or visiting their website at www.MC311.com.

Sign up for Montgomery County Alert Montgomery to receive emergency alerts, event updates, warnings and instructions directly to your email or device.

For the latest snow-related updates, visit the County's Snow Information Portal and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X @MontgomeryCoMD.

A recording of today's media briefing is available on YouTube.

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Media Contact:  Mary Anderson, 301-529-7669 or Barry Hudson, 240-300-7348

Release ID: 25-006
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 301-529-7669, Barry Hudson 240-300-7348
Categories: Snow, Transportation