Afternoon Snow Update

It looks like the snow is starting to taper off this afternoon, but a winter weather advisory remains in effect for the area until 9 p.m. according to the National Weather Service.

At the time of posting there were no major traffic incidents to report in the area, although there have been several reports of icy conditions.  It's also extremely slow-going out on the Beltway as people try to make their way home. 

Lora Rakowski, a spokeswoman for the State Highway Administration, said that because of early school closings there had been a greater volume of traffic on roadways earlier.

She explained that because of that and traffic moving slower, rush hour conditions will start a little earlier and extend into the evening for the Baltimore Metro area.  Rakowski said that so far there hasn't been much accumulation on the roadways just some on the shoulder and along the center of the roads.   

She also said there hadn't been any major accidents reported to the agency. "There have been a couple of crashes mostly single vehicles into guardrails probably indicating folks going a little too fast for conditions," Rakowski said.

The National Weather Service reports that temperatures will dip as low as 20 degrees overnight; freezing temperatures will likely lead to some icing on roadways that were salted this afternoon.

Stay tuned to Parkville Patch for traffic updates as you begin your commute home this afternoon, and keep an eye out for any school closing information which will be posted by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow.