Maryland schools closed, delayed or having virtual learning Wednesday after snowstorm
BALTIMORE -- Several Maryland schools are closed, delayed or having virtual learning Wednesday, Feb. 12, due to a winter storm that brought heavy snow across the state.
Snow developed Tuesday afternoon and became heavier into the night. Snowfall is expected to taper off before 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Baltimore City, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Cecil counties through Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the rest of Maryland during the same timeframe.
The WJZ First Alert Weather Team says snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected in the advisory area. In the warning zone, widespread 4 to 6 inch totals are expected with more than 6 inches possible in some areas across southern Maryland.
The following schools will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 12:
- Baltimore City Public Schools
- Carroll County Public Schools
- Cecil County Public Schools
- Harford County Public Schools
- Howard County Public Schools
- Prince George's County Public Schools
The following schools will be delayed on Wednesday, Feb. 12:
- Frederick County Public Schools
- Harford County Public Schools (delayed two hours)
The following schools will have virtual learning on Wednesday, Feb. 12:
- Anne Arundel County Public Schools
- Baltimore County Public Schools
WJZ compiled a list of snow days remaining for Baltimore-area school districts.
WJZ will continue to update the list of school closings, delays and early dismissals as they are reported. Find a full list of closures HERE.
Stay updated on the forecast with WJZ's First Alert Weather team.
Snow totals
As of 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Deale, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County, recorded six inches of snow.
Columbia had 3.7 inches of snow, while Edgemere and Laurel got three inches. Elkridge, Ellicott City and Sykesville had more than two inches.
Marylanders shop for winter storm essentials
Hours before snow fell across Baltimore, customers stopped at local hardware stores to pick up last-minute winter essentials.
WJZ was at Ace Hardware in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood where customers walked out with windshield wiper fluid and shovels.
"The ice melt has been a big item for us, as well as shovels," said Luther "Sam" Price, an associate at Ace Hardware.
Customers stocked up on winter essentials in preparation for inches of snow, plus ice.
"They do get sand and bags for flooding, as well as stuff for the walls, things that can push the moisture out," Price said.
Price says store staff has welcomed more people than usual just hours before Tuesday's winter storm.
"You have a lot of people in and out," Price said. "You have a lot of students. You have a lot of people that are moving in and out of Baltimore. Some are not prepared for the snow."
Crews are treating the roadways
State Highway Administration crews started pretreating the roads on Monday while working 12-hour shifts to monitor the conditions.
"Right now, what they're doing is they're staging," said Charlie Gischlar, with the State Highway Administration. "As soon as they start to see the snow falling, that's when they go into action."
Gischlar said the State Highway Administration may deploy more contractors in areas across southern Maryland where they expect to see more than six inches of snow.
"We have up to 2,800 pieces of equipment that are at our disposal," Gischlar said. "That includes dump trucks, loaders, our chard vehicles."
Gischlar said crews are stationed in areas where heavy-duty trucks have a history of becoming disabled like on major highways, including I-95 and I-70. It allows them to quickly get that truck out of the way so they can treat the roads.
Conditions in Howard County
The winter snowstorm is coating the streets and yards in Howard County.
Some residents told WJZ they are enjoying this winter weather.
"Oh my goodness, I personally love it," said Columbia resident Cornelia. "For me, the snow is amazing, brings out the child in me."
Transportation crews continue to clear the roads, but the snow and salt mixture is making driving a challenge.
"Running out right now to get something for the kids and the family, figured I'd get out before it gets too wet out here too sloppy," Columbia resident Colin Rock said.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said thousands of roads in the county were pretreated and crews are prepared to monitor the conditions overnight.
The county could get 4 to 6 inches of snow.
"We're well prepared, our teams are ready to go," Ball said. "Whenever we get around 5 to 7 inches, we try to have all roads start getting cleaned 12 to 18 hours after the entirety of the snowstorm, but the good thing is, with it being slow and steady, our teams will keep working."
