Morning Notes
Another Hot April Day, With Shot At Record Highs — Temperatures could reach 90 degrees today, which would best the area record highs of 89 set at National and BWI Airports in 1922. [Capital Weather Gang]
Two Energy Tax Cut Proposals At County Council — Two councilmembers are proposing energy tax cuts for the upcoming budget that would save the average resident between $10 and $20 a year. [Washington Examiner]
Montgomery County State Delegation Celebrates Successful Session — With a transportation bill that could provide the state’s portion of the 16-mile Purple Line light rail and a 4 percent increase of direct state aid to the county, delegates and state senators from Montgomery say they had a productive General Assembly. [The Gazette]
Know A Good Landscaper? — Forum user sandyspring would like to know in our Forums. Take advantage of our new feature by connecting with the more than 20,000 people who visit our site each month. [Forums]
Morning Notes
Icy Conditions Mar Morning Commute — Icy roads, especially on bridges, might have caused an accident on the Rockville Pike overpass of Montrose Parkway, temporarily closing down three lanes of southbound Rockville Pike. Police also reported dangerous conditions on the Fernwood Road overpass of the Beltway and the Democracy Boulevard overpass of I-270.
Snow Set Records Yesterday — The rare spring snowstorm that hit the area set a few records for daily maximum snowfall and the roughly three inches of snow was the largest March 25 snowfall since 1990. [TerpWeather]
Maryland House Approves Medical Marijuana — The House of Delegates voted to support medical marijuana under limited circumstances. The bill will be sent to the State Senate, which voted to decriminalize possession small amounts of marijuana. [Washington Post]
Flickr photo by ehpien
Montgomery County In Snow Emergency
Montgomery County is now in a snow emergency, meaning drivers should take extra caution and are prohibited from parking on roads and streets designated as snow emergency routes.
From Maryland State Police and the State Highway Administration:
The Maryland State Police (MSP) declares snow emergencies with input from MD State Highway Administration. Once a snow emergency is declared, the law requires certain precautions:
Prohibited parking on roads and streets designated as snow emergency routes; and The use of snow tires/chains (most cars now use all weather tires, so changing to “snow” tires is unnecessary)Once an emergency is in effect, all requirements are in effect until lifted. A Snow Emergency Plan is put into effect by county. Certain exceptions can occur while a snow emergency plan is in effect. A specific route(s) can be lifted and the remainders of the roads in the county still remain under the Snow Emergency Plan. For the most up to date information, it is advised to call the local MSP barrack for the county.
Snow started accumulating on area roads early this morning, with a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until noon Monday and 1-3 inches expected by the National Weather Service:
… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY…
* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS… 1 TO 3 INCHES.
* TIMING… MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED EARLY THIS MORNING. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY THIS AFTERNOON.
* TEMPERATURES… LOWER 30S.
* WINDS… NORTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH.
* IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY… ESPECIALLY ACROSS ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES… AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Morning Notes
Winter Weather Advisory In Effect Until Noon — A mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow is expected to continue this morning with accumulations of less than one inch. [National Weather Service]
Schools On 2-Hour Delay, Federal Government On Delayed Arrival — Both Montgomery County Schools and the federal government are operating with delays today because of the weather. [MCPS] [OPM.gov]
Valentine’s Day Open House At Woodmont Triangle Boutique — Recent Woodmont Triangle arrival Take 5 Boutique (4920 Fairmont Ave.) will host a Valentine’s Day open house from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 with free champagne, chocolate, light fare and style tips. [Take 5 Boutique]
Flickr photo by eddie.welker
Morning Notes
More Snow Expected Later Today — Another inch of snow is expected this evening, with a Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service in effect from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. [National Weather Service]
Most Marylanders Happy With Gov. O’Malley, But Not For President — A new poll has Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) with a 54 percent approval rating, but says only 25 percent of Marylanders want him to run for President. O’Malley has long been rumored to be seeking higher office after his second term ends in 2014. [The Gazette]
Summer Camp Expo This Weekend — White Flint Mall (11301 Rockville Pike) will host its 18th Annual Camp & Summer Programs Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. [White Flint Mall]
Flickr photo by ehpien
Morning Notes
Winter Weather Advisory Coming Tonight — The National Weather Service says a storm system will bring a wintry mix starting tonight and continuing Saturday to Central Maryland and the greater Washington area. [National Weather Service]
Third Person Dies From Christmas Eve Beltway Crash — A third passenger in a car that hydroplaned across the outer loop of the Beltway near Connecticut Avenue on Monday night died, according to Maryland State Police. [The Gazette]
Rockville Pike Water Main Work Continues — The two left lanes of southbound Rockville Pike just north of Cedar Lane remained closed early this morning, as WSSC crews continue to repair a broken water main and sinkhole. The State Highway Administration has been doing significant underground utility work there, including the installation of a 20- to 25-foot deep hole to replace the previous WSSC sewer line. [SHA via Twitter]
Flickr photo by nori127
Morning Notes
Metro Elevator Project Pushed Back Again — Despite plans to reopen the elevator at the Bethesda Metro station in October, then late November, then early December, the elevator remains closed and now is scheduled to be completed next week. Yesterday, the station’s three escalators stopped working during the evening rush hour, leaving riders with a long hike or waiting for a shuttle bus at Medical Center. [FixWMATA via Twitter]
B-CC Beard Contest Raises Almost $1700 — Psychology teacher Paul Soboslay and student running mate Ellis Palmeri are your 2012 Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School beard contest winners. Students paid $1 yesterday to vote for the best beard. The contest raised $1,676 for the National Center for Children and Families on Greentree Road. [h/t Tim Gilmore]
High Wind Watch Tomorrow — The National Weather Service says sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph will affect Montgomery County and much of the D.C. area tomorrow, which could cause downed trees and power lines. [National Weather Service]
Flickr photo by crthomas888
Morning Notes
B-CC Career Partnership Day — Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School students matched up with area businesses, government agencies and County Council staffers to see the ins and outs of a workday. [Bethesda Magazine]
Beware of Fog — The National Weather Service issues a dense fog advisory until 9 a.m. today, urging drivers to use low-beam headlights. [Washington Post]
Film Festival Deadline Today — Today is the deadline to submit entries for Bethesda Urban Partnership’s first-ever documentary film festival. BUP is looking for five to 20-minute documentaries to show at Imagination Stage at an event in March. [Bethesda Urban Partnership]
Flickr photo by IamJomo
Morning Notes
Walter Reed Hit-And-Run Suspect Released From Psyc Ward 4 Days Before Incident — Angela Cobbold, the Virginia woman who on Tuesday was observed eating a bar of soap before ramming into a Walter Reed security car and drawing gunfire from an officer, was released from a psychiatric ward four days before the incident. During a bond hearing yesterday, prosecutors said she did not appear to have been taking her medication. [The Gazette]
County Attorney Tells State Prosecutor to Back Off — In the escalating fight over Montgomery County’s police effects bargaining referendum, county attorney Marc Hansen told state prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt his investigation of county officials is misguided. The police union has objected to county officials using tax dollars to campaign against effects bargaining. [Maryland Juice]
FOP Rep Calls for County Spokesman to Resign — Also on effects bargaining, FOP consultant and Washington lobbyist Lanny Davis yesterday called for County spokesman Patrick Lacefield to resign. Lacefield has spearheaded the county’s campaign to uphold a law that gets rid of effects bargaining, which Police Chief Thomas Manger says hurts department efficiency. [The Gazette]
Meteorologists Tracking Rare Late-October Hurricane — A rare, East Coast-threatening late-October hurricane could cause trouble early next week. Some are concerned the combination of Hurricane Sandy and a western cold front could cause an unusual hybrid of hurricane and winter storm that would produce snow, wind and rain that would hit the Mid-Atlantic hard. [NBC4]
Flickr photo by IamJomo
