Montgomery County Closings Due To Wind Storm March 2

ROCKVILLE, MD — With dire warnings from the National Service about Friday's strong winds turning objects into flying projectiles, some services and offices are closed. That includes federal offices in the Washington, D.C. area are closed. Emergency and telework-ready employees required to work must follow their agency's policies. More from OPM.

On Friday, March 2, Montgomery County Public Schools are closed. All school and community activities in school buildings are canceled.

Montgomery County Rec programs, classes and activities scheduled for Friday are canceled due to emergency weather conditions. Senior center will be closed and recreation centers will be open for drop-in activities only. Please contact the center directly for drop-in schedules.

But Montgomery County government offices and departments are open today, according to their normal operating schedules, with optional liberal leave for non-essential employees due to emergency weather conditions.

FOR MORE: Maryland Nor'Easter: Wind Gust Speeds, Power Outages, Safety Tips

City of Takoma Park offices and facilities are closed today.

Maryland Transit Administration reports that MARC Train Service has been canceled due to downed trees and signal issues.

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Weather Statement

Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are predicted Friday as a nor'easter buffets the Baltimore-Washington region all day, authorities are warning of dangerous driving conditions, projectiles that could injure pedestrians, power outages from fallen tree limbs, and broken windows from flying debris. In fact, the National Weather Service said in a special weather statement that residents should remain in the lower levels of their homes during the storm, and avoid windows.

Wind speeds could top those that Superstorm Sandy brought to the state in October 2012, forecasters say, which were in the 61 mph range. By daybreak, winds across the region will be from the northwest sustained at 30-40 mph, with gusts of 60-70 mph. "Isolated wind gusts could reach 80 mph, particularly at higher elevations west of the Interstate 95 corridor. While the strongest winds will occur between 6 a.m. and noon Friday, gusts from 55 to 65 mph in the afternoon and through Friday night," the weather service says.

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