Schools, trains delayed; roads slick Monday

Heavy precipitation Sunday and freezing temperatures overnight have delayed some schools and commuter rails Monday morning.

WASHINGTON — Heavy precipitation Sunday and freezing temperatures overnight have delayed some schools and commuter rails Monday morning.

Frederick County, Md. schools are opening two hours late. Frederick County, Va. schools are opening one hour late.

Virginia Railway Express says commuters from Woodbridge to Washington should expect delays due to flooding concerns.

MARC Brunswick Line trains in the Washington area are also delayed.

All area roads Monday morning, particularly bridges and ramps, are slick from the precipitation and freezing temperatures. Callers tell WTOP Traffic’s Chris Roth the overpasses along Interstate 270 are particularly slippery.

Winds in excess of 35 mph will also be an issue, according to ABC7 Meterologist Brian van de Graaff.

Check out WTOP’s Closings and Delays page and the Traffic Center for more information.

About 1 to 1.5 inches of rain had fallen in the District and its suburbs by about 5:20 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The precipitation had been falling at about a quarter to third of an inch per hour.

The weather service issued a Flood Watch for most of the WTOP listening area until midnight. A Flood Watch means there is the potential for flooding.

The weather service also issued a Flood Warning for small streams in the District, Prince George’s County and eastern Montgomery County — as well as for those in southeastern Alexandria, Arlington County and eastern Fairfax County — until 9:45 p.m.

Other areas, including Manassas, Prince William County, Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County and Stafford County were under the same warning until 9:30 p.m. The warning was extended from 6:30 p.m.

A Flood Warning means flooding is imminent or has been reported, but flash flooding is not expected.

The heavy rains and high water caused traffic problems and road closures around the region. On the George Washington Parkway, southbound lanes of the road were closed between Tulane Drive and Morningside Lane.

The weather service said the rains were expected to cause Rock Creek to crest above 9 feet — the level of moderate flooding — overnight. In Prince William County, officials say volunteer firefighters helped move three passengers from their van in Nokesville after it got stuck in rising waters Sunday afternoon.

Forecasters were calling for up to two inches of rain to fall, with higher amounts more likely in western Maryland and the West Virginia panhandle. A winter weather advisory also was issued for cities including Hagerstown, Harrisonburg, Winchester and Front Royal until 2 a.m., with 1 to 3 inches of snow expected to stick.

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