Snowy mix leaves behind slushy roads, icy patches

Snow falls in Northwest D.C. in February 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow falls in Northwest D.C. early Saturday evening. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow falls on Idaho Ave. NW. (WTOP/Chantalle Edmunds)
Snow falls on Idaho Avenue NW. (WTOP/Chantalle Edmunds)
FILE — A stop sign is cloaked in light snow in February 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A stop sign cloaked in a slight snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow and sleet in Tenleytown. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow and sleet in Tenleytown. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The view from Kensington, Maryland, on Saturday. (Courtesy Sergio Hernandez)
The view from Kensington, Maryland, on Saturday. (Courtesy Sergio Hernandez)
The snow and sleet made roads slushy Saturday. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The snow and sleet made roads slushy Saturday. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow falls Feb. 17 in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
Snow falls Feb. 17, 2018, in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
WTOP's Patrick Roth captured the slushy roads in D.C. on Saturday evening. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
WTOP’s Patrick Roth captured the slushy roads in D.C. on Saturday evening. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
Roads became slushy in Silver Spring during Saturday's snowfall. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
Roads became slushy in Silver Spring during Saturday’s snowfall. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
WTOP’s dog tried to eat snowflakes during Saturday’s snowfall. (WTOP/Patrick Roth) (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
WTOP's Sarah Beth Hensley captured the wet, slushy snow as it came down in Northeast D.C. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
WTOP’s Sarah Beth Hensley captured the wet, slushy snow as it came down in Northeast D.C. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
A view of Saturday's snowfall in Northeast D.C. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
A view of Saturday’s snowfall in Northeast D.C. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
Radar map for Saturday 2:49 p.m. (Courtesy NBC 4)
Radar map for Saturday 2:49 p.m. (Courtesy NBC4)
Saturday’s temperatures reached the 40s around the D.C. area on Saturday, which means that most roads will primarily be wet. Some roads around D.C. might be a bit slushy. (Courtesy NBC4)
Slushy and wet conditions in D.C. and parts south east of the District. (Courtesy NBC4)
Snow and ice totals starting Saturday afternoon through the evening. D.C. and areas south and east will likely only see wet snow, but north and west of D.C., a chance of actual snow accumulation. (Courtesy NBC4)
Snow and mixed preciptation will overspread the area with some accumulation expected. Plan for slippery roads and reduced visibility. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Snow and mixed precipitation will overspread the area with some accumulation expected. Plan for slippery roads and reduced visibility. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Expected times for snowfall on Saturday, Feb. 17. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Expected times for snowfall on Saturday, Feb. 17. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Expected snowfalls for Saturday, Feb. 17. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Expected snowfalls for Saturday, Feb. 17. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
(1/19)
Snow falls in Northwest D.C. in February 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow falls on Idaho Ave. NW. (WTOP/Chantalle Edmunds)
FILE — A stop sign is cloaked in light snow in February 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow and sleet in Tenleytown. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The view from Kensington, Maryland, on Saturday. (Courtesy Sergio Hernandez)
The snow and sleet made roads slushy Saturday. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snow falls Feb. 17 in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
WTOP's Patrick Roth captured the slushy roads in D.C. on Saturday evening. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
Roads became slushy in Silver Spring during Saturday's snowfall. (WTOP/Patrick Roth)
WTOP's Sarah Beth Hensley captured the wet, slushy snow as it came down in Northeast D.C. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
A view of Saturday's snowfall in Northeast D.C. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)
Radar map for Saturday 2:49 p.m. (Courtesy NBC 4)
Snow and mixed preciptation will overspread the area with some accumulation expected. Plan for slippery roads and reduced visibility. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Expected times for snowfall on Saturday, Feb. 17. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Expected snowfalls for Saturday, Feb. 17. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Neighborhood street in Northwest coated. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

WASHINGTON — Despite the mild weather Saturday morning, clouds moved in, the skies grew dark across the D.C. region, and rain and snow moved in.

The wintry mix left behind slushy, wet roads and temperatures near the freezing mark raising concerns about refreezing Sunday morning. The National Weather Service warned of patchy ice on sidewalks and roads, especially north and west of the immediate D.C. area.

But temperatures at or near 50 are expected later in the day.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the D.C. metro area at 5 p.m. Saturday lasting through midnight.


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The arrival of the precipitation caused some traffic travel headaches Saturday evening. A number of weather-related crashes were reported by Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, including a major accident on Sully Road/Old Ox Road.

Commuters should plan on slippery road conditions and reduced visibility. The National Weather Service urges drivers to use caution while driving.

An area of low pressure brought in the mix of snow, rain, sleet and some pockets of freezing rain across the D.C. area Saturday afternoon and into the evening. Northern Maryland is expected to be the worst affected area with 2–4 inches of snow possible.

(Courtesy NBC Washington)

“If you live in southern Maryland and down toward the Northern Neck accumulation is still on track to be less than an inch, if any,” said Storm Team4 meteorologist Somara Theodore.

(Courtesy NBC Washington)

“For those living in the D.C. metro area and suburbs surrounding it, accumulation will be difficult. Temperatures reached the low 40s todayand we had quite the warm up this week. Therefore, those living in and around the beltway are still on track to receive 1 to 2 inches,” said Theodore.

Farther north into areas such as Frederick, Maryland, and parts of northern Montgomery and Howard counties, there could be 2 to 4 inches of snow.

Snow quickly covered the grass in D.C, according to WTOP’s Brandon Millman.

In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency early Saturday after heavy rains triggered flooding throughout the state. The storm is expected to affect West Virginia through the weekend and the state’s National Guard is on standby.

All the rain and snow in the D.C. metro area is expected to end by midnight.

Sunday will have clear sunshine with temperatures rising into the lower-50s.

Forecast

There might be some icy patches early Sunday morning, but the clouds will decrease and temperatures will reach the 50s.

Some light showers are possible on Monday with highs in the mid-50s.

Tuesday will feel like spring with temperatures getting into the 70s.

Current Conditions

Check WTOP’s weather page for updates on conditions and WTOP’s traffic center to see how the winter weather is affecting the roads.

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