WASHINGTON — WTOP traffic reporter Bob Marbourg said it’s not the time for exceeding the speed limit, as wet roads turned icy overnight.
A statement by the National Weather Service advised motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution when driving or walking Saturday morning, and to reduce speed, leave extra stopping distance, and allow plenty of extra time when traveling.
WTOP’s traffic center reports several crashes on Saturday morning, particularly on bridges, ramps and overpasses, which are the first to freeze. See the latest traffic updates here.
Although the area only had a light dusting Friday, NBC Storm Team 4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer warned that any wetness left would turn icy, as temperatures dropped below freezing, making roads, sidewalks and driveways slippery. Kammerer said to expect plenty of black ice.
Happy Saturday! While the sunrise is pretty, the icy patches on some roads are not, so be careful until temperatures rise above freezing later this morning. #dcwx #mdwx #vawx #wvwx pic.twitter.com/jHE3sWxUDF
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) December 16, 2017
You will need a warm coat due to a cold start Saturday, but temperatures will warm up throughout the day reaching a high of 46 degrees. However, wind chill will make it feel like the 30s despite sunny skies. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with highs in the 50s.
The forecast:
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Milder.
Temps: Mid 40s
Wind: SW 10 to 15 mph
Sunday: Becoming cloudy. Milder and more seasonable. Light rain by the end of the day.
Temps: Mid to upper 40s
Monday: Showers ending the early morning. Mild.
Temps: Low 50s
See the current radar plus the Winter Weather Advisory areas, which are shaded in white in the map below:
Get the full forecast on the WTOP.com weather page.
A mix of snow with graupel mixed in fell Friday and moved out of the area by 6 p.m. Graupel is snow coated in supercooled liquid. This precipitation typically forms when the lower atmosphere is unstable.
The Friday afternoon rush got started several hours early as drivers tried beat the snow and early dismissals for several counties in Maryland put more vehicles on the road in the early afternoon.
Get the latest traffic updates on the WTOP traffic page, by following @WTOPTraffic on Twitter and by listening to 103.5 FM on-air or online.
See all closings and delays announcements on WTOP’s Closings and Delays page.
