Maryland & Virginia – Thin flakes and sleet pelt windshields as a light wintry mix spreads across the Washington–Baltimore metro this morning. Pavement glistens under headlights, and the air carries that biting edge that signals December’s first icy morning commute.
The National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington reports a mix of light freezing rain, sleet, and rain extending from Gaithersburg and Rockville to Alexandria and Fredericksburg, continuing through late morning. Temperatures around 32°F mean even minimal precipitation can freeze on contact, especially on bridges, ramps, and shaded roadways.
Drivers should slow down and allow extra braking distance, particularly along I-495, I-95, and Route 50, where slick conditions are most likely. Elevated surfaces and untreated roads may glaze over quickly before temperatures rise later in the day.
Skies begin to clear by afternoon, and highs near 40°F will gradually melt any remaining ice. Wednesday brings sunshine and highs in the low 40s, offering a brief return to calm before another potential late-week cold front moves through, possibly reintroducing frost and patchy morning ice by Friday.
Meteorologists describe this as an early-season winter tease — light on accumulation but heavy on impact for morning travelers.
If you’re heading out, watch for black ice on shaded stretches and ramps. The first freeze of December has arrived — subtle, slippery, and easy to underestimate.
Seeing ice on your commute? Let us know where conditions are worst.
