Snow blanketed the D.C. area on Monday, leading to numerous car crashes and closures on major roads, including several miles of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Monday's snow has not amounted to a lot, but it was enough to create some slippery road conditions blamed for collisions throughout the DMV, including an emergency medical services vehicle crashing head-on with another vehicle on Rock Creek Parkway.
And more snow is on the way.
The D.C. area is expected to see inches of snow between Monday and Tuesday, with the snowfall affecting travel, especially on Tuesday morning.
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It’s shaping up to be the most significant snow in about two years for the region, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.
Monday morning's snow was light, fluffy and easy to wipe away with a broom or brush. But cold temperatures mean snowflakes can stick to untreated roads and sidewalks, and plenty of areas are slick.
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Latest weather forecast, live radar and weather maps for Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
"Be prepared for anything," Alex Liggett of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said. "This is one of the first systems we've seen in a long time."
Keep an emergency kit ready and ensure you're car is prepped for snow. You don't want to run out of wiper fluid in the snow, Liggett said.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser activated the District's cold weather emergency plan through Thursday. Here are resources for unhoused people or others who need help staying safe. Go here for more information on the District’s plan, shelters and tips.
The National Zoo announced it would close Monday due to icy conditions.
While many schools and businesses are closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, delays and cancelations are likely on Tuesday, Bell said. The federal U.S. Office of Personnel Management said normal operating procedures are in effect on Monday.
Travel was already slow and unsteady early Monday as temperatures were cold enough for flakes to stick to the ground, particularly on secondary roads.
Major road closures, many crashes on Monday
The GW Parkway between the Capital Beltway and Spout Run Parkway was shut down because of poor road conditions, impacting travel not far from Reagan National Airport. An extended closure is expected under a snow plan in place because of major construction on the road. Drivers are advised to find alternate routes.
"Drivers should anticipate delays in reopening the northern section of the parkway as crews are required to use smaller equipment than usual to accommodate the lane widths and configurations," the National Park Service said in a statement.
A dump truck overturned on DC-295 in Southeast D.C., spilling its contents onto the road and blocking all lanes. No injuries were reported, D.C. firefighters said.
A driver hit an EMS vehicle head-on along Rock Creek Parkway near Shoreham Drive, officials said. There were no injuries, but icy conditions are believed to be a factor.
A pickup truck hit a power pole in the Oakton area along Main Street near Presbyterian Way, Fairfax City police said. Dominion Energy crews responded to the scene. Dominion reported about 535 customers without power in the area shortly after the crash.
Possibly up to 50 cars were stopped and multiple crashes were reported at Old Keene Mill Road and Westmore Drive in Springfield, Virginia amid icy conditions.
Along the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County, crashes involving multiple vehicles blocked lanes, shoulders and medians, but lanes reopened after a few hours, the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) Program said.
East West Highway was blocked at Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase after a number of collisions. At least one injury was reported, but officials didn't immediately give further details.
Nine cars were involved in two crashes, but fortunately, no injuries were reported, near Baltimore Avenue and East West Highway in Riverdale Park, Hyattsville firefighters said.
In Takoma Park, icy conditions shut down Carroll Avenue from Merrimac Drive to Lincoln Avenue, police said.
Rockville police said they were "responding to multiple traffic collisions due to poor roadway conditions. Salt crews have been notified." They asked drivers to slow down.
A winter weather advisory is set to be in place until 7 a.m. Tuesday. Here's a full list of weather alerts.
D.C.'s snow team was deployed beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday.
"Northern Virginia District crews began pretreating interstates and primary roads, along with bridges, ramps, and overpasses with salt brine Sunday and will be out treating Monday morning as snow develops," the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said.
VDOT crews are expected to start plowing once 2 inches of snow have fallen.
Snow totals and what to expect
Another round of snow will move from the south toward the north late Monday evening, becoming widespread overnight. Snowfall is expected to lighten Tuesday morning and taper off at around noon before returning.
The heaviest accumulation is expected to come from 7 p.m. Monday through 9 a.m. Tuesday
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest on timing.
The total accumulation by Tuesday should land at around 2-3 inches, but “some isolated locations could get a little bit more… The second half of the day looks to be quiet,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Jessica Faith says.
Storm Team4 says the worst of the impacts on Tuesday will be:
- icy roads in the morning
- reduced visibility, particularly before sunrise when the snow is still falling
- strong winds with gusts at around 20 mph
- dangerous cold, with windchill in the 20s during the whole day
Temperatures will be well below average in the week ahead, Faith says.
