MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
The Fire/EMS Department wants to help keep you informed about a winter storm. Precipitation will move into Prince George's County Sunday evening with a potential to continue through Tuesday afternoon. Precipitation will be mixed at times and the forecast calls for anywhere between 1 to 3 inches. Everyone needs to remain informed about the changing forecasts.
We have included the most up-to-date forecasts from the National Weather Service and tips to help you stay safe
Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1156 AM EST SUN JAN 25 2015
...COMPLEX WINTER WEATHER COMING TO BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON REGION
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...
A COMPLEX WINTER STORM SCENARIO WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AND CONTINUE
THROUGH TUESDAY FOR THE GREATER BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON REGION.
LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT...THEN REDEVELOP
OFFSHORE OF CAPE HATTERAS AS A STRONG COASTAL STORM DURING THE
DAY MONDAY. THIS WILL GIVE THE GREATER BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON
REGION TWO SEPARATE BOUTS OF WINTER WEATHER.
THE FIRST ROUND OF PRECIPITATION WILL START EARLY THIS EVENING IN
WESTERN MARYLAND...EXTREME NORTHERN VIRGINIA...AND THE EASTERN
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. IN THESE
AREAS...THE PRECIPITATION MAY START AS A PERIOD OF MIXED RAIN AND
SNOW BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW BY DAYBREAK MONDAY. THE
SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON MONDAY...MAKING TRAVEL
DIFFICULT PARTICULARLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 66 AND WEST OF THE BLUE
RIDGE. WINTER STORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR THIS REGION.
TONIGHT...AS THE PRECIPITATION PROGRESSES EASTWARD TOWARDS THE
INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR...RAIN WILL MIX WITH SNOW IN THE IMMEDIATE
BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN AREAS AS IT SPREADS
EASTWARD. HOWEVER...BY DAYBREAK MONDAY...PRECIPITATION SHOULD
CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND. SOME MODELS SUGGEST THAT
PRECIPITATION ON MONDAY WILL STAY ALL RAIN IN AREAS SOUTH AND
EAST OF WASHINGTON DC...SO THERE REMAINS CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY
FOR AREAS OF MARYLAND SOUTH OF ROUTE 50. WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE GREATER BALTIMORE AND
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREAS.
FINALLY...AS THE COASTAL STORM STARTS TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP LATE MONDAY
AFTERNOON OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST...A SECOND ROUND OF WINTER
WEATHER MAY FURTHER IMPACT THE REGION...THIS TIME PRIMARILY EAST
OF INTERSTATE 95. SNOW BANDS ALONG WITH GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS UP
TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND THE POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM
MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST TOWARDS CAPE
COD. AN ADDITIONAL 5 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE
COUNTIES ALONG MARYLAND`S PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. BLOWING
SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE...REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE-QUARTER
OF A MILE AT TIMES. WINTER STORM WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE
MARYLAND COUNTIES DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO
FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM SYSTEM.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Prince George's County. The men and women of your Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department want you to help us by staying safe yourself. Today's forecast is as complex as the storm itself. This is a storm everyone needs to stay informed, stay ready and stay safe.
Some of our highest concerns during a winter weather event is everyone driving, staying warm and power outages.
Stay Informed, Stay Ready, Stay Safe
• Stay prepared by bringing out your emergency preparedness kit and having a supply of essential items (food, water, warming items, radios, batteries, flashlights, etc.) available.
• Stay informed by monitoring TV news, news radio, National Weather Service radios and the Internet. Important information may be broadcast that could affect you and your family. Ensure your cell phones and lap top computers are fully charged now – before the storm occurs.
• Stay safe by keeping fire safety and injury prevention a priority in your activities. It is important to remember that fire apparatus and ambulances will be slower to respond to your emergencies due to the weather and hazardous driving conditions. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms now to ensure they are working. In the event of an emergency, have an escape plan and call 911 immediately from a safe location.
• If possible, stay indoors and off the roads at all costs. Reduced traffic on roadways will allow public works crews an opportunity to clear a path that can be used by first responders to handle emergencies. If you must venture outdoors, dress warm and in layers, wear a hat and gloves, and cover your face with a scarf.
• A winter storm always has the potential to cause power disruptions as snow and ice will collect on power lines and tree branch’s that will then come in contact with power lines. Do not approach a downed power line – always consider downed power lines to be “live.” Restrict access to the downed lines and call 911.
• Speaking of calling 911 – please – only call 911 for emergencies. Activity for Fire and EMS service could be high. If you do not have an emergency you should call 311 for assistance.
• In the event of power outages – use flashlights and battery powered lanterns for illumination – do not use candles. Ensure you have a battery powered radio.
• Give space heaters space – keep space heaters at least 3-feet away from anything combustible like bedding, furniture, paper, etc.
• Use only seasoned wood products in your fireplace and use extreme caution when disposing of fireplace ashes as they can remain hot for days after the fire is out. Dispose of ashes in a metal container outside and away from the house.
• Some winter storms produce enough snow and ice that will make it difficult to shovel, especially for those that have an existing heart condition or anyone over the age of 50. Limit shoveling to only a few minutes at a time, shovel smaller amounts, and take frequent breaks.
• It is time to be a good neighbor – check on your senior citizen neighbors and ensure they have heat and food. Shovel their sidewalks and check on them frequently.
• Clear away snow from the fire hydrant on your street. If the fire hydrant is on your property; you are required to clear away the snow.
• If you must drive – reduce your speed, increase the distance between you and the car in front of you, turn on your headlights, and do not be distracted by cell phones. Keep an eye out for pedestrians as they will venture out into the streets as sidewalks disappear.This information especially applies to 4-wheel drive SUV operators.
Finally, remember to think of our four-legged furry friends and keep your pets indoors.
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Fire Department stands ready and prepared to provide the best emergency and non-emergency services available. We ask you to help us by preventing emergencies from ever occurring to avoid the need for us to have to respond to that emergency.
Remember, Safety First ensures Everyone Goes Home.
Hazardous Weather Outlook
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1111 AM EST SUN JAN 25 2015
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN
CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA AND CENTRAL MARYLAND TONIGHT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT MONDAY.
AS THE LOW PUSHES TO THE NORTHEAST...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF
SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. A WINTER STORM
WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COUNTIES ALONG CHESAPEAKE BAY MONDAY
NIGHT UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING.
A GALE WARNING IS POSSIBLE ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY MONDAY NIGHT.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1040 AM EST SUN JAN 25 2015
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 6 PM
EST MONDAY...
* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW...POSSIBLY HEAVY AT TIMES.
* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 INCHES.
* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH
LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR
BETWEEN EARLY MONDAY MORNING AND MONDAY AFTERNOON.
* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 30S.
* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH.
* IMPACTS...ROADS WILL BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY WITH
VISIBILITIES BEING REDUCED TO NEAR ONE-QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.
THE COMBINATION OF SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITY WILL
MAKE TRAVELING DANGEROUS.
* OUTLOOK...SNOW WILL CONTINUE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...WITH
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE.
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.
