“WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 1 am Monday to 10 am Tuesday” 200 Snow Plows Deployed Later Tonight

Photo by PoPville flickr user Nathan Castellanos

From Alert DC:

“The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 1 am Monday to 10 am Tuesday. The precipitation will be snow , sleet and freezing rain. The heaviest at 5 am Monday to 3 pm Monday evening. The accumulation will be 3 to 5 inches of snow and sleet. Around one-tenth of an inch of ice from freezing rain.

Timing: Snow will begin between 1 and 3 am Monday morning. Snow will change to sleet and freezing rain Monday afternoon and all freezing rain Monday evening. Precipitation will gradually change to rain late Monday night into Tuesday morning. Winds will be southeast around 5 to 10 mph.

Temperatures will be in the teens tonight and rising into the upper 20s to lower 30s Monday into Monday night. Temperatures will rise into the upper 40s Tuesday.”

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Bowser Directs Full Deployment for 11p.m., Sun., Feb. 14;
1-3 Inches of Snow Plus Wintry Mix Possible on Monday

Wintry mix may include sleet and freezing rain; motorists and pedestrians are urged to travel with caution while temperatures remain below freezing

Mayor Muriel Bowser has directed a full deployment for the DC Snow team, starting at 11 p.m., Sunday, February 14, based on the possibility of 1 to 3 inches of snow falling early Monday, followed by a wintry mix of sleet and rain which could cause slippery travel conditions. More than 200 plows will be deployed. The critical time for snowfall is expected early Monday morning at 3AM, with transition to a wintry mix while temperatures remain below freezing. Plows will be positioned on bridges and overpasses as well as the freeways, major routes and residential streets to monitor conditions and spread salt or plow when necessary. The deployment will continue until the threat of snow and ice has passed. Motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to stay informed and exercise caution when traveling throughout the day.

The DC Snow Team advises pedestrians and motorists to heed the following important safety tips:

• Take Metro as an alternative to driving.

• Drive only if it is absolutely necessary.

• If you must drive, drive cautiously and maintain safe speeds and distances from other vehicles.

• Keep a safe distance from emergency and snow vehicles and please use caution when attempting to pass a snowplow. Give the drivers plenty of room to safely do their jobs.

• Before the storm, residents and businesses should apply abrasives, to the sidewalks around their properties to reduce the possibility of icing.

• Clear sidewalks of snow and ice within the first eight hours after the end of a snow/ice storm.

• Be aware of hazardous road conditions, particularly black ice which can be deceptive in appearance and give the driver a false sense of security on the road.

• Keep your gas tank full.

• Clear all the snow and ice from your vehicle’s hood, roof, windows and lights before driving.

• Drive carefully on bridges, ramps and other elevated structures, which can freeze before the roadway.”