8 Inches Of Snow Possible: Winter Storm Warning Issued For HoCo

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Heavy snowfall is headed our way, so get out the shovel. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Howard County from Saturday, Jan. 12, to Sunday, Jan. 13.

The warning calls for 4 to 8 inches of snow, an increase from the earlier projection of 3 to 5 inches.

A winter storm warning means that travel will be hazardous or impossible. Those who must travel should keep a flashlight, food and water in their vehicles in case of emergency.

At 4:05 p.m., the National Weather Service reported numerous snow showers were happening in the Baltimore and DC metropolitan areas that would continue through mid-evening, tapering to flurries around midnight.

Road conditions will deteriorate quickly, with visibility less than a quarter of a mile, creating hazardous road conditions in some areas. Temperatures will reach the lower 20s in the region overnight, so refreezing is likely, especially in areas untreated by salt or snow melt, according to the winter storm warning.

Maryland State Police put the snow emergency plan into effect in Howard County at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13. Parking is prohibited on roads designated as snow emergency routes. All-weather tires are required on vehicles.

The winter storm warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Saturday to midnight Monday for Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties.

Here are the latest Howard County snow totals as of 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, according to unofficial data reported to the National Weather Service:

• 6.2 inches, Columbia, 9:30 a.m.; trained spotter
• 5.5 inches, Columbia, 9 a.m.; National Weather Service employee
• 5.4 inches, Columbia, 7 a.m.; trained spotter
• 5.2 inches, Elkridge, 10:20 a.m.; trained spotter
• 5 inches, Columbia, 5:30 a.m.; trained spotter
• 5 inches, Elkridge, 9:57 a.m.; trained spotter
• 5 inches, Savage, 7:30 a.m.; trained spotter
• 4.8 inches, Jessup, 7:44 a.m.; trained spotter
• 4.7 inches, Simpsonville, 4:15; trained spotter
• 4.5 inches, Columbia, 8 a.m.; trained spotter
• 4.2 inches, Elkridge, 5 a.m.; trained spotter
• 4 inches, Elkridge, 7:55 a.m.; trained spotter

Closures/Cancellations

Schools are closed for students in the Howard County Public School System on Monday, Jan. 14.

Howard County Library System Branches are closed Sunday, Jan. 13.

All HCPSS schools and facilities are closed on Sunday, Jan. 13. HCPSS-related and community-sponsored events in school facilities are canceled, including athletic practices/games.

Public transit buses will begin service at noon on Sunday, Jan. 13. Clocktower and Shalom Square bus stops will not be served at this time. Call customer service at 1-800-270-9553 with questions.

Due to the impending storm, Howard County public schools and facilities will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, officials announced Saturday afternoon.

All school and community-sponsored events in Howard County Public School System are canceled for Saturday night, including athletic practices and games.

Because of the weather, Monday morning commutes and school openings may be affected, according to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); below-freezing temps Sunday night may leave "lingering impacts of the storm in certain areas," MEMA advised.

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Code Blue Issued In Howard County

While temps are expected to be in the 20s and mid-30s, it will feel like it's in the 20s due to wind.

Given the forecast, the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services has issued a code blue.

Don't forget to make appropriate accommodations for ur 4-legged friends #HoCoMD when its cold outside. New law passed this fall states animals housed outside must have access to appropriate shelter, bedding & unfrozen H2O source at all times. Learn more: https://t.co/R4NT4XWoqD. pic.twitter.com/Sjm1emSBPk
— Howard County Gov't (@HoCoGov) January 11, 2019

To help people stay warm, Howard County has activated warming shelters at these locations that will be available during the cold spell:

• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia
• Leola Dorsey Day Resource Center, 10390 Guilford Road, Jessup

If you see a homeless individual who needs help or if you need assistance with shelter, Howard County encourages calling the Grassroots hotline at 410-531-6677.

The County's 50+ Centers, community centers and library branches offer places to warm up for those seeking warmth during the cold snap:

• Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
• East Columbia Library and 50+ Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
• Florence Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia
• Gary Arthur Community Center, 2400 MD 97, Cooksville
• Glenwood Branch, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville
• Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City
• Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City
• Roger Carter Community Center, 3000 Milltowne Drive, Ellicott City
• Elkridge Branch and 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge
• North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel
• Savage Branch, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel

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See a map of warnings and watches across the state from the National Weather Service.

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PREVIOUS REPORT — Get your snow boots ready, because it looks like a couple of inches of snowfall may be headed our way. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for snow in Howard County effective Saturday, Jan. 12, into Sunday, Jan. 13.

The advisory calls for 3 to 5 inches of snow.

Snow is likely to start between 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, according to the forecast.

Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery and Washington counties are under the winter weather advisory from 4 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.

"If the storm brings more snow than expected, totals may be around 5 to 6 inches. If the storm brings less than expected, we could see an inch of snow," Howard County officials said.

"...this event is expected to start slowly and bring greater impacts after sunset and through the overnight hours when temperatures dip below freezing," according to a statement from Howard County government officials. "The heaviest snow is expected after midnight Sunday, through early Sunday morning." Officials said the heavy snow would end by 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13.

Monday morning commutes and school openings may be affected, according to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); below-freezing temps Sunday night may leave "lingering impacts of the storm in certain areas," MEMA advised.

To prepare, Howard County highway crews have been treating roads with a salt-brine mixture to prevent freezing once snow starts falling. Use the snow plow tracker for road updates.

Higher snowfall totals are expected in points south. In southern Maryland, Calvert and St. Mary's counties are under a winter storm warning calling for 3 to 6 inches of snow from 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday.

Charles, Montgomery and Prince George's counties along with DC are under a winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday, with 4 to 7 inches of snow expected.

Here are the snowfall predictions from the National Weather Service for 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13:

• Baltimore Inner Harbor: 3 inches expected; low of 2 inch, high of 6 inches
• D.C., National Mall: 5 inches expected; low of 2 inches, high of 8 inches
• Frederick: 3 inches expected; minimum of 2 inches, high of 7 inches
• Hagerstown: 3 inches expected; low of 2 inches, high of 6 inches
• Leonardtown: 6 inches expected; low of 2 inch, high of 12 inches

These snowfall projections are preliminary; see the latest projections from the National Weather Service.

Here is the forecast for Howard County from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 38, and a low of 23 at night. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: Snow likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 33 and low around 27. Chance of daytime precipitation is 70%, with less than one inch possible. At night, the chance of precipitation increases to 90 percent, with 2 to 4 inches of new snow accumulation possible.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday: A slight chance of snow Sunday night into Monday before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35 and low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 41 and low around 27.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43 and low around 28.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

Graphic courtesy of the National Weather Service. Photo via Shutterstock.