Snow Emergency Plan Lifted In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The snow emergency plan in Baltimore County has been lifted.

State highway officials issued the plan Wednesday morning and lifted it at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.

The snow emergency plan is to assist the State Highway Administration in snow clearing operations throughout the county.

PREVIOUS REPORT (expired as of 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21) — Baltimore County was under a snow emergency plan on Wednesday, Feb. 20. In a snow emergency, state police may immediately authorize the towing of vehicles parked on snow emergency routes as well as those left in roads or on shoulders.

Also under a snow emergency plan, vehicles must be equipped with snow tires (all-weather tires are fine), chains or all-season radials to be allowed to drive on Maryland highways.

The snow emergency plan is to assist the State Highway Administration in snow clearing operations throughout the county.

Drivers should slow down if they must travel.

Baltimore County is under a winter storm warning until 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

About 1 inch of snow per hour will fall through early Wednesday afternoon, according to the winter storm warning, which calls for 3 to 6 inches of snow in Baltimore County.

"Travel will be very difficult, especially late this morning into early this afternoon," the warning states. "The hazardous conditions will impact the latter portion of the morning commute, and they may also impact the evening commute as well."

Snow will change to sleet and freezing rain between 1 and 3 p.m., continuing as freezing rain through late Wednesday afternoon before transitioning to straight rain Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service. About 0.1 to 0.25 inch ice may accumulate.

Northern and western suburbs of Baltimore may see the highest snowfall accumulations, weather officials say.

Travel will be hazardous during the winter storm warning period. The weight of the snow, sleet and freezing rain could cause branches to fall and isolated power outages to occur, according to the warning.

Here are the latest unofficial snowfall reports from the National Weather Service:

Baltimore County Closings For Wednesday, Feb. 20

Baltimore County government offices are closed. Emergency and essential employees are to report.

Rec centers, senior centers, animal services, County Ride and Baltimore County Circuit Court are closed.

Trash and recycling collections are still on schedule to be picked up where and when conditions allow, according to county officials, who advise residents to anticipate potential delays. People should leave their curbside pickup materials out until collection occurs.

All branches of the Baltimore County Public Library are closed.

Baltimore County Public Schools are closed.

CCBC will be closed for daytime classes on Wednesday, and classes at Baltimore County Public School locations are also canceled.

Goucher College is closed, and classes are canceled. Essential employees are to return to work.

Stevenson University is closed, and classes are canceled.

Towson University is closed on Wednesday, and all classes are canceled.

UMBC is closed on Wednesday.

Images via CHART at 9:15 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Screenshot from National Weather Service.