Emergency Weather Conditions Forces MCPS Schools to Close

Montgomery County Public Schools will be closed today, January 4, 2018, due to emergency weather conditions. All school-sponsored and community-use activities in school buildings are canceled. Administrative offices will open two hours late.

Schools will be closed Thursday, Jan. 4 due to the snow which has fallen overnight and the additional snow which is expected to accumulate until 11:00 am. Day care may open two hours late. MCPS will reevaluate offices and day care by 7:00 am.

The Federal Government in Washington, DC will open under a two hours Delayed Arrival and employees have the option for unscheduled leave of unscheduled telework.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Germantown and the entire DC area until 11:00 am Thursday morning. A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. “Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities and use caution while driving,” said the National Weather Service.

The NWS has also issued a Wind Chill Advisory for today through 10:00 pm tonight. “Very cold wind chills expected late this evening through Friday morning. Plan on slippery road conditions, including during the morning commute. Snowfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches expected. Expect wind chills to range from 0 to 10 below zero.”

“Very cold conditions mean that snow will quickly stick on roads and sidewalks making the Thursday morning commute dangerous,” said the NWS. “Plan ahead and allow extra time to get to your destination if traveling late Wednesday night or Thursday. Bitterly cold conditions will follow for late Thursday through the weekend causing snow to remain on untreated surfaces.”

“Be prepared for reduced visibilities at times this morning from snow. The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin. Northwest winds will average between 20 and 30 mph with gusts around 40 mph through this evening...decreasing to 15 to 25 mph later tonight,” said the NWS.