Harford County gets dusted in first snowfall of 2017, life goes on

Enough snow fell in Harford County late Thursday afternoon through early Friday morning to cover the ground and sidewalks, but not enough to stop people from going about their business after the first snowfall of 2017 stopped.

Schools opened on schedule, and local government buildings and courts were open in downtown Bel Air. People could be seen out and about on Main Street, walking under clear skies while bundled against temperatures in the high 20s.

Dr. Jason Lembach, a Forest Hill dentist, wore a jacket over his workout outfit – which included shorts – as he walked along West Pennsylvania Avenue to get his hair cut at the Old Line Barbers. He worked out at the Bel Air Athletic Club before coming downtown.

He said he had not had any issues driving in the area, although his driveway was icy. The snow started with flurries around 4 p.m. Thursday, and less of an inch could be seen on the ground by the time it stopped the next morning.

"The streets are just wet," Lembach said. "It looks like they did a good job treating them."

He has two children; one was home sick Friday, but the other went to school at Saint Margaret School in Bel Air on schedule.

Lembach also acknowledged the cold temperatures.

"Any season but winter," he said.

Harford County government put 75 public works trucks on county roads around 3 p.m. Thursday, in anticipation of the snow, to salt and treat road surfaces, according to county government spokesperson Cindy Mumby.

"The roads are in good shape now," she said Friday morning. "School was able to start on time."

Mumby said the county's 911 center handled "routine calls overnight but nothing that we are aware of that was related to the snow."

She encouraged residents to visit the county's web site for tips on staying safe during a snow storm. Visitors can also check out the Snow Plow Tracker app, which Mumby said is activated when at least 6 inches of snow falls, which of course wasn't necessary for this snow. Visit http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/1165/Snow-Events for more information.

The area was blanketed with more than 30 inches of snow last January during Winter Storm Jonas.

"It's just a good time for folks to remember the procedures for when we have a bigger storm, and we're actually digging out," Mumby said.