Snow Falls Across Maryland As First Major Winter Storm Arrives

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Rounds of sleet and freezing rain overnight gave way to heavy snowfall across parts of Maryland on Monday morning.

The heaviest of the snow began falling shortly after sunrise, with particularly heavy snow falling in Annapolis and areas south of Baltimore.

As of 3 p.m., the snow ended in most areas except the lower Eastern Shore. Locally about 3 to 5 inches of snow was reported, but much higher amounts were found in Anne Arundel, Charles and St. Mary's counties. Some folks there saw as much as 8 to 12 inches of heavy wet snow.

In Charles County, Charlotte Hall saw 14 inches of accumulation and St. Charles saw 10 1/2 inches. Birdsville in southern Anne Arundel County recorded 11 inches of snow and Edgemere in Baltimore County recorded 6.1 inches.

A Winter Storm Warning was in effect until 4 p.m. for much of Maryland, including Anne Arundel, Caroline, Cecil Charles, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties, as well as Baltimore City and parts of Howard County.

Additionally, a Winter Weather Advisory that had been issued for much of western Maryland, including Carroll and Frederick counties and parts of Howard and Montgomery counties, was cancelled on Monday afternoon.

Temperatures briefly warmed up to 30 degrees by 3 p.m. before cooling down into the 20s for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening hours. Gov. Larry Hogan and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott advised residents to avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary, saying cold temperatures could refreeze wet or slushy roadways.

The sun will return Tuesday but temperatures will remain cold. Some warmer air is expected by Wednesday.

If you're heading out on the roads, expect challenging conditions with visibility reduced to a quarter mile or less where snowfall is heaviest. Gusty winds could also lead to snow drifts, which could present another hazard for drivers.

The weather led several school districts throughout the region to close schools for the day. View an updated list of closures here.