Community Corner

NWS: Conditions 'Treacherous'

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather advisory for Howard County until 1 p.m. Wednesday as a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow moves through Maryland. 

According to NWS, the wintry mix will continue through early Wednesday afternoon. With temperatures hovering in the upper 20s and lower 30s Wednesday morning and winds gusting up to 35 mph, the roads remain slick and travel conditions “treacherous.”

The wintry mix should turn into all rain by this afternoon, according to NWS, as temperatures rise above freezing. 

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NWS expects precipitation to move off the coast early Thursday morning, leaving behind a dry, cold, windy day, which will “help to dry the region but do little to warm it up.” Wind speeds of 30 – 40 mph Thursday will make temperatures feel like they’re in the 20s.

Another storm is likely to hit this weekend, according to NWS, but whether it will bring rain or snow depends on the storm’s track.

Find out what's happening in Ellicott Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has been on the roads since before rush hour Wednesday, according to a statement. Drivers can check www.MD511.org for travel conditions before heading out.

On the roads, “We ask motorists to keep their speeds down as lighter traffic can also result in increased travel speeds," SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters said in a statement. "Conditions can change rapidly within just a few miles and we ask motorists to exercise extreme caution today.”

SHA recommends keeping the following items in your vehicle at all times in case of an emergency: 

•       a shovel
•       jumper cables
•       snacks
•       blanket or sleeping bag
•       flashlight with extra batteries
•       high calorie non-perishable food
•       first aid kit
•       extra clothes
•       bottled water
•       a charged cell phone
•       kitty litter or other abrasives


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