The first round of Monday's winter storm has brought light snow to Harford County, but county emergency officials continue to watch conditions in anticipation of a second round that could drop 3 to 6 inches on the area.
"We're just in a monitoring phase right now," County Executive Barry Glassman said shortly after 11 a.m. as fine snow kept falling in Bel Air.
Glassman said he has been consulting with county emergency officials and noted the second round, which could include windy conditions, could hit during the late afternoon.
Harford County Public Schools officials canceled the school day Monday, as well as the Board of Education meeting scheduled for the evening. The board meeting, at which the budget for the next school year was to be approved, has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at school headquarters.
Forecasters expect the snowfall to continue through Tuesday with up to slightly more than 5 inches falling on the area, according to the National Weather Service website.
Forecasters anticipate 1 to 2 inches will accumulate in Bel Air during the day, and 1 to 3 inches more could fall Monday night. Snow showers are expected for Tuesday morning, with less than 1 inch of additional accumulation.
The high temperature Monday is expected to be close to 33 degrees, with the nighttime low about 26 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Harford County Department of Public Works salt trucks hit the local roads at 6 a.m. to pre-treat the county thoroughfares.
The progress of plows on county roads and in neighborhoods can be monitored online through the county's new Snow Plow Tracker web page at http://apps.harfordcountymd.gov/SnowPlowTracker.
County government spokesperson Cindy Mumby said they will reassess conditions around noon.
"We are monitoring weather forecasts very closely," she said, explaining that following the morning pretreating of roads, crews would be standing by "depending on what happens."
County government offices are open, as is Harford Community College and municipal offices in Aberdeen, Bel Air and Havre de Grace.
Bel Air Town Administrator Jesse Bane said public works crews have been salting and clearing sidewalks and roads.
"We are, at some point, going to be granting liberal leave, but for now everyone is here," he said of town employees.
Community college officials and staff are also monitoring the weather, and officials will decide later on Monday whether to close campus early or not.
Nancy Dysard, a spokeswoman for HCC, said officials are monitoring weather reports, and crews who have been out salting parking lots and sidewalks are also watching the developing conditions.
"There is a possibility that we will be closing early," Dysard explained. "However, we're just not sure at this point in time because we're monitoring as the day goes along."