A fresh, first-of-the-season snowfall coated much of the D.C. region on Saturday.
Some of the heavier bands of snow hit southern Maryland. Dunkirk, Maryland, in Calvert County, received 6 inches of snow. Ridge, Maryland, in St. Mary's County, received 6.5 inches of snow.
The National Weather Service issued unofficial final snow totals from Saturday's storm.
- The National Zoo in Northwest D.C. - 2.4 inches
- Annapolis, Maryland - 3 inches
- New Market, Maryland - 3 inches
- Germantown, Maryland - 5.5 inches
- Bowie, Maryland - 2.7 inches
- Dulles International Airport - 4 inches
- BWI Airport - 2.8 inches
- Reagan National Airport - 2 inches
- Chantilly, Virginia - 3.6 inches
- Ashburn, Virginia - 4.5 inches
- Woolsey, Virginia - 5 inches
The National Weather Service said temperatures were expected to remain below freezing Sunday morning. Icy conditions were possible on untreated roadways, in parking lots, and on sidewalks. Untreated bridges and overpasses or other elevated roadways could be especially icy and hazardous.
If traveling, slow down and allow extra time to reach destinations. Be aware of icy patches on sidewalks and other walkways.
In Virginia, state police said they responded to more than 200 crashes on Saturday.
Dominion Energy said 3,500 are without power in northern Virginia, and 13,000 are dark across the state.
Traffic camera video showed snow falling in California, Maryland, late Friday afternoon, and chief meteorologist Doug Kammerer said snow fell in surrounding areas of Cambridge and Patuxent River.
It was snowing at the beach on Friday night. Significant amounts of snowfall could be seen on traffic cameras in Ocean City, Maryland, and Bethany and Rehoboth beaches in Delaware.
AAA Mid-Atlantic said the first snow of the season always comes with a learning curve for drivers and gave the following safety tips:
- Remove all snow from vehicle, including roof, hood, and trunk. While driving, snow can blow off your car onto the windshield of a nearby vehicle, temporary blinding that driver’s vision.
- Slow down. Adjust your speed to the road conditions and leave yourself ample room to stop. Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. Accelerate, turn and brake gradually.
- Do not tailgate. Normal following distances of three to four seconds on dry pavement should be a minimum of five to six seconds when driving on slippery surfaces. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.
- Never use cruise control on slippery roads. A driver should always be in full control of their vehicle during poor road conditions.
- Avoid unnecessary lane changes. This increases the chances of hitting a patch of ice between lanes that could cause loss of vehicle traction.
- Minimize the need to brake on ice. If you’re approaching a stop sign, traffic light or other area where ice often forms, brake early on clear pavement to reduce speed. Vehicle control is much more difficult when braking on ice-covered roadways.
