Refreeze, light snowfall could bring dangerous road conditions

WASHINGTON — Some parts of the D.C. region are seeing light snowfall early Wednesday morning, and, coupled with overnight temperatures below freezing, some roadways could be icy for the morning commute.

Untreated roads and neighborhood side streets could be slippery, as well as elevated roadways such as bridges and overpasses.

In Germantown, Maryland, WTOP’s Nick Iannelli says the main roads have been well treated, but that drivers should guard against overconfidence. “In some spots, there is standing water … and that can freeze easily in these temperatures.”

Charlie Gischlar, of the Maryland State Highway Administration, tells WTOP that roads in upper Montgomery County and Frederick County got a small amount of snow, and that elevated roadways such as bridges are getting icy.

“If it looks wet, assume that it’s frozen,” Gischlar says.

Storm Team 4 meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts says that snow showers and flurries will continue through much of the morning.

Temperatures dropped into the 20s and near 30 degrees Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Also, a lot of instability will lead to clouds and gusty conditions Wednesday, making it feel much colder than it did Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the region saw a mix of rain and snow, but the accumulation varied depending on where you were. Some parts saw up to four inches of snow while others received more rain.

And we aren’t done with possible refreezes after Wednesday as much colder, pure arctic air enters the region, says Storm Team 4 meteorologist Matt Ritter.

“After we drop below freezing Wednesday night, it is unlikely we will be above freezing again until next week,” Ritter says.

Get the latest forecast information on the WTOP weather page.

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital News Director at WTOP. She has worked several different roles since she began with WTOP in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.

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