The current temperature ranges from 33° F in Silver Spring to 34° in Burtonsville.
Expect delays on the Red Line for Shady Grove-bound trains, but Metro subways are operating. The only Metrobus routes operating in Maryland are: 83, A12, C4, C22, D12, F4, J2, K6, P12, Q1, T18, Y9, Z8. Ride On buses are on the S Schedule, which means they are (supposedly) running, but won't adhere to the posted route schedules.
The federal government is opening 2 hours late, and Montgomery County Government and schools are closed.
We could get an additional 1-3" of snow overnight, as temperatures will drop below freezing.
It is currently 32° F in Glenmont and Burtonsville, and we are under a Winter Storm Warning until 3 PM. There is a possibility of 2-4 more inches of snow on top of what's out there already by this afternoon, when it is expected to taper off. Temperatures could (hopefully!) reach the mid-30s by that time. Winds will gust up to 35 MPH, which could lead to power outages.
Metrobus service is suspended, and most - if not all - flights out of BWI Marshall Airport are canceled. If you can get to it, the Metrorail subway is running on all lines.
It is currently 17° F in Glenmont, and a super-frosty 14° in Burtonsville.
We are now under a Winter Storm Warning across the DC Metro area, from 7:00 tonight, through Thursday evening. Expect the real snow to start after 8:00 PM tonight, with accumulation of 4-8 inches by Thursday afternoon. The temperature could drop into the upper teens tonight. Temperatures in the low 30s on Thursday could create a mix of snow and freezing rain. Because atmospheric conditions suggest a heavy, wet snow, cleanup will be more difficult, and power outages are likely. Winds will pick up Thursday, with gusts in the 30 MPH range, adding to the likelihood of outages.
Some stores appeared to be running low on the most popular types of milk last evening, but most other items were in stock.
Take a flashlight, food and water in your vehicle if you must travel during Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Well, so far the weather experts have been dead wrong on Winter Storm Saturn. Rain starting at 5 PM yesterday? Never happened. 1-3" of snow last night? Nope. Now they're telling us the worst is still to come today. I don't have much faith in these "experts."
Roads are slick but quite passable at this hour.
Schools and the federal government are closed. The Maryland state government is on liberal leave.
Almost all Metrobus routes are running, but some are on "limited" schedules. That means more waiting than usual at bus stops.
Forecast remains the same, with snow accumulation of 5-6" by tomorrow, while other models say anywhere from 3-12".
Stay tuned here and at @SilverSprung and @WheatonGlenmont on Twitter for updates.
Silver Spring, Wheaton, and all of the East County are under a Winter Storm Watch right now. The sun is shining, but there's a wintry chill in the air.
Winter Storm Saturn is on its way to the DC area.
How many inches of snow will end up falling on eastern Montgomery County tonight and on Wednesday?
The average prediction is 5-6 inches. Some forecasters say it could be as many as 8-12.
But here's an intriguing prediction: the now-famous Euro Model is saying the DC area will receive a 1-3" accumulation. This contradicts the majority of forecasts. Yet it is intriguing because the Euro Model was dead-right about the hurricane last fall.
The fact is, nobody knows. But conditions are right for up to a foot of snow. And it is supposed to be a wet, heavy snow. That means more effort to shovel and plow for humans and machines.
Even though the Euro Model sounds unlikely, you can't rule out the data from a model that has been accurate so many times.
The fact that temperatures will rise above freezing on Wednesday could certainly reduce the potential total accumulation.
But that ice and slush will freeze solid after dark again, so watch out.
Today, expect light showers by 5:00 PM, changing over to snow after dark. Accumulation of 1-2" possible tonight. Winds gusting to 30 MPH.
Wednesday, heavy showers and heavy snow. Accumulation of 5-12" possible through Thursday morning. Winds will gust to 35 MPH. Visibility could be affected if snowfall is heavy, due to winds.
Metro and Metrobus are total wildcards in recent years, in contrast to their past practice of operation during all but the worst snows in prior decades.
Stay tuned here and at @SilverSprung and @WheatonGlenmont on Twitter for updates throughout the storm!
