D.C.-area winter storm causes fresh problems for airports, roads
A blast of frigid air on Wednesday froze the remnants of the area’s first major winter storm in two years, stranding travelers at airports, causing slick spots on some roads, and forcing most school districts to delay or cancel classes — and more snow might be on the way.
It was sunny Wednesday, but temperatures did not climb out of the upper 20s to low 30s, limiting the melting of ice and snow on sidewalks and roads. The Capital Weather Gang was predicting another frigid night that could bring a new round of freezing.
It also forecast the possibility of fresh snow Thursday night or Friday morning that could cause additional problems.
Early Wednesday, travelers faced delays and cancellations as the nation’s air system reeled from the storm, with about 40 percent of departures from Dulles International Airport delayed, while roughly 30 percent were backed up at Reagan National Airport, according to the website FlightView. Nearly half of departures at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport were delayed. Some of those delays had improved by Wednesday afternoon.
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Authorities warned drivers Wednesday morning to take streets slowly after temperatures plummeted into the teens and single digits across the area overnight. Slushy spots hardened into ice, and some streets were still waiting for plows to remove the snow that fell Monday and Tuesday; major roads appeared to be in better shape. A few accidents were reported.
“Freezing temps + moisture on pavement = possible icy conditions,” the Virginia Department of Transportation posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Use caution when driving this morning & be prepared for slick spots, especially on bridges, ramps & overpasses that freeze first. If it looks wet, it could be ice.”
VDOT said it had more than 80 trucks treating Interstate 95, and more than 250 trucks salting and sanding primary and secondary roads across the state.
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A stretch of northern George Washington Parkway was reopened after being closed earlier this week because of icy conditions, and Metrobus announced that its fleet had mostly resumed normal service Wednesday morning. Metrorail also appeared to be operating normally.
Some school districts, including in Loudoun and Montgomery counties, decided to cancel classes Wednesday morning after previously announcing that school would be delayed. School officials cited the icy conditions.
D.C. officials declared a “Cold Emergency Alert,” meaning they opened more warming centers for the city’s homeless and conducted additional outreach because of the extreme weather, the coldest of the winter so far.
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