City of Baltimore Prepares for Possible Snow Saturday Morning
Reduced visibility and slippery conditions are possible early Saturday
BALTIMORE, MD (February 16, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore City Department of Transportation Director Corren Johnson announced that the city is gearing up for possible accumulating snow overnight tonight in the Baltimore region. Several inches of wet, accumulating snow is possible by Saturday morning. Snowfall rates could be as high as one inch per hour overnight for several hours, which could cause reduced visibility and slippery conditions.
“Accumulating snow overnight can create hazardous driving conditions, so we urge motorists to stay off the roads so that our crews can safely and efficiently treat city streets,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Safety is our biggest priority, so we encourage residents to take precautions, check on neighbors, and act in the interest of everyone’s safety. Just as our snow team does in every weather event, we will be working through the night and through the duration of this storm to ensure road conditions are managed and our city is ready for the weekend ahead.”
The Baltimore City Snow Team has been readying its’ snow equipment and started pre-treating primary roadways, city gateways, bridges and overpasses last night with salt brine to help prevent the initial bonding of snow and ice to the pavement. Snow crews will activate at 9:00 p.m. this evening to monitor weather and roadway conditions and will work throughout the storm. With over 15,000 tons of salt, nearly 300 pieces of city equipment, and an additional 380 contractor trucks, the city is fully prepared for efficient operations during this next round of winter weather.
Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and be prepared for possible accumulating snow overnight and Saturday morning. Conditions can change rapidly, and winter precipitation can cause roadways to become slick, especially on elevated surfaces such as bridges, ramps and overpasses which freeze more quickly than roadways.
Residents who must travel during the storm are strongly advised to follow the guidelines below:
· Plan additional travel time overnight and on Saturday so that you arrive to your destinations safely.
· Drive at reduced speeds for safety, as posted speed limits are based on ideal/dry weather conditions.
· Allow extra following distance and remember not to “crowd the plow” by staying behind working snow vehicles and leaving them plenty of space to operate.
· Clear ice and snow from your vehicle before driving which can become dislodged and hazardous for other motorists.
For updated weather forecasts and traffic conditions, residents should tune into local news stations, check social media resources and visit the city’s snow page at https://snow.baltimorecity.gov/.
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