Today is the Best Bet for Clearing Snow and Ice Before Temperatures Drop
ANNAPOLIS, MD - The City of Annapolis is in the process of cleaning up from the winter storm that dropped more than 8 inches of winter precipitation in Annapolis. Today will be the warmest day for the next week, with the following temperatures forecast by the National Weather Service:
From 7 p.m. tonight until 11 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for a wide area in the Washington, DC area, including Annapolis. Wind chills of –5° to –8°F are expected, which can quickly cause hypothermia if you’re not protected. More cold weather alerts are likely later this week as Arctic air sticks around.
PLOWING OPERATIONS: So far, the Annapolis Department of Public Works’ (DPW) plow crews have plowed and treated 69 percent of City roads to a “passable” standard. More than 600 hours of plow time have been deployed as of 6 a.m. on Monday morning. Plow and snow removal operations will continue. If your street has not been plowed, call 410-260-2211 to notify DPW crews. At this time, DPW will continue plow and treat operations and will move some crews to removal operations, bringing in loaders to remove snow from intersections and narrow streets. As of 9 a.m. on Monday, the City has lifted the Phase III Snow Emergency. Non-essential travel on local roadways is now permitted.
CLEAR SIDEWALKS: Annapolis City Code requires property owners to clear sidewalks by 11 a.m. following an overnight snow event. At this time, the City is providing a 24-hour grace period before citations are issued, giving residents and business owners additional time to complete the work. Given this week’s forecast, today is the best day to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, and it’s also the best window for snow-melting chemicals to be effective. TIP: For best results, choose calcium chloride or magnesium chloride instead of rock salt (sodium chloride), which stops working well once temperatures dip below about 20°F.
FREE GARAGE PARKING ENDS WEDNESDAY: Free parking at City garages (Park Place, Gotts, Knighton, and Mills Hillman) will end at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Parking is now permitted on all City streets (where parking is normally allowed), but finding a spot may be difficult. As a reminder, public streets are not private property, and attempting to reserve a parking space is not a guarantee that the spot will remain yours. Be a good neighbor: if you see that someone has painstakingly shoveled out a parking space, don’t take it!
BGE: Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) has reported no power outages within municipal limits during this storm event. Residents are reminded to immediately report any outages by calling 877-778-2222, texting OUT to MYBGE (69243), or visiting the BGE “Report an Outage” portal online.
STATE OF EMERGENCY: On Saturday, Mayor Jared Littmann declared a State of Emergency in Annapolis to ensure access to critical resources during both the response and recovery phases of the storm. On Friday, Gov. Wes Moore declared a State of Emergency for Maryland. At the City’s request, the State of Maryland has provided two units of the Maryland National Guard to assist the City. These units will always be accompanied by City employees and will have limited purposes, including the use of high-clearance vehicles to assist public safety.
SNOWPATHS: The City of Annapolis uses SnowPaths, an online tool that provides real-time GPS tracking of snow plowing and road salting operations during winter storms. Available at www.annapolis.gov/snowpaths, the interactive, mobile-friendly map shows when roads were last serviced and highlights priority routes, helping residents, businesses, and visitors travel more safely during snow and ice events.
ANNAPOLIS CALL CENTER & EOC ACTIVATION: The City of Annapolis Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has moved to “partial” activation level as staff coordinates resources and response efforts. The Annapolis Call Center will be operational throughout this event for non-emergency storm-related questions. Annapolis residents can call 410-260-2211. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
REFUSE AND RECYCLING PICKUPS: At this time, Monday trash and recycling pickups have shifted to Tuesday and Tuesday pickups have shifted to Wednesday. There is no metal bulk pickup and no yard waste pickup this week.
WARMING CENTER: The Pip Moyer Recreation Center auxiliary gym will be open as an emergency temporary warming center through Tuesday, Jan. 27. If there is a need for general or long-term sheltering assistance, please contact the Crisis Response System Warmline at 410-768-5522.
GOVERNMENT OPERATING STATUS: City of Annapolis offices are closed on Monday, January 26, with the exception of essential services, including police, fire, emergency management, central services, and public works. Essential employees should report for duty on time. Quasi-essential employees should check in with their supervisor for work status. Non-essential employees do not report to work.
HARBORMASTER: At this time, boat owners should not check on their vessels due to the slippery conditions of docks. For liveaboards, please wear a life jacket and use the buddy system for your personal safety. The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning for the entire Chesapeake Bay region through at least Tuesday.
ANNAPOLIS TRANSIT: Transit operations for Monday have been suspended due to conditions. Annapolis Department of Transportation will make a decision about Tuesday operations late on Monday. It will be announced on the City website and social media.
RECREATION & PARKS: The Roger “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center and the Stanton Center are both closed on Monday, Jan. 26. Operating status for Tuesday will be determined late on Monday. It will be announced on the City website and social media.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The Annapolis City Council meeting scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Monday has been rescheduled to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2.
OTHER GOVERNMENT CLOSURES:
Anne Arundel County Public Schools are closed for Monday, Jan. 26;
Anne Arundel County Government offices are closed for Monday, Jan. 26;
Anne Arundel County Public Libraries are closed for Monday, Jan. 26;
Anne Arundel Dept. of Aging Senior Centers are closed for Monday, Jan. 26; and
The Maryland General Assembly is closed for Monday, Jan. 26
REPORT AN ISSUE: Winter storms can take a toll on City infrastructure, sometimes resulting in potholes, downed trees that block roads or sidewalks, and more. Residents are encouraged to report these issues through the City’s Anna311 service request portal, which allows users to submit concerns and track their status in real time. Visit the online portal: https://cityofannapolismd.tylerportico.com/TIM/Portal/portal-home. With the expected cold temperatures, there is a threat of water main breaks. If you see water flowing or bubbling out of the street, it could be a water main break. Report immediately to 410-263-7970, during regular hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm); after hours, weekends, or on holidays, use the 24-hour line, 410-224-2140.
SNOW INFORMATION: For information on Annapolis’ general policies for snow, plowing, and declarations of snow emergencies, visit https://www.annapolis.gov/730/Snow-Information.
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: Please check in on elderly and vulnerable neighbors; if snow or ice accumulates, be sure to shovel your sidewalk and clear fire hydrants.
STAY INFORMED: Prepare Me Annapolis Mobile App – This free app from OEM provides real-time alerts and information for Annapolitans to be prepared in any type of emergency. Prepare Me Annapolis is available, free of charge, on both the Apple Store and Google Play.
Visit the City on social media at: www.Facebook.com/CityofAnnapolis and www.instagram.com/cityofannapolismd.
