Winter's Heaviest Snow Makes For A Treacherous Weekend Day Off
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland gets its largest snow storm this season. People are digging out after the storm left several inches of snow across the region.
Alex DeMetrick has more on the terrible road conditions.
Crews working to clear state, county and city roads spent the night moving a lot faster than they were able to during the worst of Saturday's snowfall.
The State Highway Administration (SHA) and the Transportation Authority (MDTA) had 2,400 trucks plowing and salting throughout the state to keep roads passable during the storm.
There were still cars stranded and abandoned throughout much of Maryland, but most were off to the side and out of the way.
It was anything but open roads earlier. Snow falling faster and heavier than expected jammed traffic on area roads, as cars struggled to gain traction.
"The roads are terrible right now," one man said.
"You've got to watch out for all the other drivers and you just take your time," said another.
And your chances.
"I think I can make it down the road," one driver said.
Those that didn't found themselves riding tow trucks. But the majority of accidents were low speed and not serious--at least until the body shop bills show up.
Far more concern was for the sleet and freezing rain that came after the snow.
"Making sure the citizens of our state are kept informed and out of harm's way will always be our number one priority, especially during winter storms like this one," said Governor Larry Hogan. "We are strongly encouraging Marylanders to use common sense and to avoid driving during this storm."
"Ice is not something you want to mess with. And some folks do and can venture out in some snowfall, even we caution folks who do that. But when it turns to ice, a quarter inch of ice is far more difficult and deadly and treacherous than ten inches of snow," said Dave Buck, State Highway Administration spokesman.
But that snow still makes for plenty of work, whether it's clearing out a car or clearing a sidewalk.
"It's powdery snow. Relatively easy to shovel. There's just so much of it," said one man.
"Bad, man. Bad. This stuff's stopping all my plans," said another.
And it's likely to put a lot of people on foot as Sunday dawns.
BGE mobilized field crews and employees in order to respond to weather-related power outages as quickly and as safely as possible.
All customers, even those with smart meters, are reminded to report power outages from mobile phones and devices through the mobile website at bge.com or by calling 877.778.2222.
WJZ will be on the air early Sunday morning starting at 7 a.m.
