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National Weather Service Issues Winter Storm Warning for Montgomery County; Residents Urged to Prepare

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 19, 2019

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Montgomery County beginning Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 1 a.m. through 7 p.m. The warning calls for heavy mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch.  

Residents should prepare for a major winter weather event. Travel disruptions within the County and region are possible as roads quickly become snow covered and icy. If you must travel, allow extra time to reach your destination. Please remain alert for ongoing plow/salt operations. Due to the predicted weather conditions, Montgomery County community members are encouraged to prepare for power outages.

Community members are urged to subscribe to Alert Montgomery for the latest information. Alerts can be sent to one or more electronic devices, including cell phones, text pagers, wireless PDAs, and home and work emails. 

Where to find County Snow Information

Preparing for the Storm 

Check with neighbors or elderly family members who may require special assistance, to see if they need help in stocking up on supplies or medications and call them during the storm. 

If there is a power outage, be prepared by having enough food, water, medication (if needed) and batteries to last at least two days. Make sure portable radios, smoke detectors and flashlights are working properly. Make shelter, food, water and medication preparations for pets and livestock. 

Automobile owners are urged to help clear the way for snow plow operators. When parking on-street, pull close to the curb on the even numbered side of the street. Park vehicles in driveways, or off the street, whenever possible. Plan where you will park if a State or County Snow Emergency is declared, making parking illegal on those roads.

Be sure your vehicle(s) are ready to drive after the storm by filling the gas tank; checking tires to make sure they have an adequate tread and are fully inflated; checking oil, antifreeze and windshield washer fluid levels; and ensuring windshield wipers, lights, flashing hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes and defroster are all working. Keep a windshield scraper, small shovel and broom in the car for ice and snow removal, and a small sack of sand or kitty litter to improve wheel traction.

During the Storm 

Power Outages:

Treat all “dark” intersections as four-way stops. Stop - then proceed cautiously.

In case of a power outage, know these numbers for utilities:

  • PEPCO: 1-877-737-2662: 
  • BG&E: 1-877-778-2222;
  • Potomac Edison/First Energy: 1-888-544-4877;
  • Washington Gas: 703-750-1000 (Smell strong odor of gas, leave site and call 9-1-1) and
  • WSSC-Emergencies: 301-206-4002.

During a power outage, relying on battery-operated lights, rather than candles, is safer. Using candles increases the risk of a fire. 

Refrigerated food will remain unspoiled only about four hours if the refrigerator is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. Use ice to keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0° or lower if there is a prolonged power outage. 

It can be fatal to use gas or charcoal grills, propane heaters and stoves, kerosene space heaters or generators indoors. These items are a source of carbon monoxide, which can build up indoors and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Please see Montgomery County Fire and Rescue for more information.

Snow Treatment and Removal: 

State-maintained roads, which are the numbered roads in the County, are cleared by the Maryland State Highway Administration. Snow clearance of County roads begins with pre-treating major County roads with salt brine, a solution of salt and water, before snow begins falling unless there is rain to wash the solution away. Plowing of County roads begins when three or more inches of snow accumulates on the roads. The County’s Department of Transportation clears emergency and primary routes before it begins clearing neighborhood streets. Neighborhood streets are not cleared to bare pavement but are made passable. Residents are asked to remain patient. There are approximately 1,000 lane miles of primary (arterial roads connecting subdivisions or business districts) and secondary roads (main collector streets through subdivisions) which are continuously treated with salt and sand and kept in “bare pavement” condition. Once the snow stops falling and major roads are clear, crews turn their attention to making streets passable for the more than 4,100 lane miles of neighborhood streets. 

Snow Emergency Routes: 

Both the State of Maryland and Montgomery County have designated certain roads as SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES. When the State and/or County initiates its snow emergency plan, it is illegal to park on these designated roads or drive without snow tires, all-weather tires, mud/snow radials or chains. Vehicles without the proper type of tire (all-weather) or chains that block snow emergency routes during an emergency may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. 

Usually, when a snow emergency is declared, drivers may park in County public-parking garages and lots for free. 

Snow Shovel Law: 

County residents are required by law to clear sidewalks in front of and alongside their properties within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. Everyone is encouraged to help seniors or others who may not be physically able to shovel. Remember not to shovel snow over fire hydrants and make a point to shovel hydrants out with a three-foot diameter around the hydrant. 

Snow Removal in Parking Lots: 

Parking lot managers are reminded not to block disability parking spaces and their adjacent striped areas when removing snow from commercial or residential parking lots.

Release ID: 19-057
Media Contact: Judy Stiles 240-777-6536