(December 14, 2013) - Currently there is light snowfall in western Maryland as far east as Hagerstown. A snow emergency plan is in effect in Allegany County. Crews are fully prepared throughout the state to salt or plow as needed. Whatever the conditions, motorists should have realistic expectations during the actual snow event: crews cannot keep the travel lanes bare while snow is falling at a moderate to heavy rate.  For a three to six inch snowfall, SHA’s goal is have most major roadway travel lanes down to bare pavement within four to six hours after the precipitation stops.

For those who do travel, remember snow emergency plans restrict where vehicles can be parked and cars and trucks must have snow or radial tires. If your vehicle becomes disabled, move from the travel lane and onto the shoulder.

Click here to visit the CHART website for traffic cameras, real-time weather and road conditions.  The public can see much of what SHA operators view at the Statewide Operations Center, which is activated as SHA’s emergency operations center during storms.

 

Ramps, bridges and overpasses are three to five degrees colder than non-elevated surfaces and will freeze first, so drivers should remain on guard at all times. During snow and ice storms, there may be power outages that disable traffic signals. Use EXTREME caution and treat non-functioning signals as four-way stops – it’s the law.

 

Sign up for SHA’s FREE service -- the “511 Traveler Information” system.  Know Before You Go! Dial 511 from a land line or mobile phone for traffic, weather alerts and road conditions, or visit www.MD511.org.  Customers can also follow SHA on Facebook  and Twitter.  Click here for general information about SHA’s winter operations.
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