The Baltimore region recovered today from yesterday's freezing rain that coated some areas with up to a half-inch of ice -- helped by higher temperatures that melted last week's snow and eased drought restrictions in some portions of the state.
But while clear roads generally made for a better morning commute, nearly 2,700 residents around the region were without power because of downed power lines.
Some schools remained closed because they lacked power, and others opened on time or modified their schedules.
"Today, it's warm," said Dewey Walston, a meterologist with the National Weather Service, noting temperatures that were expected to reach into the upper 40s this afternoon. Temperatures remained above freezing most of the morning.
"Our normal high is in the 50s," Walston said. "We've been in a cold pattern for the past week, but it's slowly getting back to normal."
Today's warmer weather is melting last week's snow, and that's been a boom to the area's waterways, Walston said. "Some of our rivers were high, but they didn't crest."
Walston said the recent steady precipitation has led Weather Service hydrologists to recommend lifting drought restrictions in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.
He said "mild" drought restrictions would be recommended for the central part of the state -- including Baltimore City, as well as for Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford and Howard counties.
In addition, mild restrictions would remain in northern portions of Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties.
"The well levels are high, the mainstream rivers are high," Walston said. "Those [mild] restrictions will probably disappear in one or two weeks if we continue in this wet pattern."
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. reported that most of the 2,700 residents lacking power in the region were in Carroll County. Power was expected to be restored today, a spokeswoman said.
Many roads were dry and passable, and several minor accidents were reported because some streets had frozen up before sunrise. Still, local officials kept salt crews out to keep roads clear.
"We're holding up pretty well," said Kathy Chopper, a spokeswoman for the Baltimore City Office of Transportation. "More people are out and about, but the roads were pretty good to begin with, so we're doing OK."
Five to seven salt trucks have been working all night in each of the city's four sections, Chopper said. Many were back out this morning.
The trucks also are refilling the approximately 1,000 salt boxes around the city, she said. "Many people just went there to get salt for their sidewalks."
The city also dispatched four pothole crews to each section about 8 a.m. "The new problem is potholes," Chopper said. "We're trying to fill them before people call in to complain."
So far this morning, the city's 311 emergency complaint system has received nine pothole calls today, Chopper said. As of 9 a.m., a total of 30 calls had been made to 311 -- and 359 calls were received yesterday, she said.
In Anne Arundel County, Maryland State Police briefly closed Route 100 at Route 10 before sunrise after several minor fender-benders were reported, said Lt. Bud Frank.
"The road had frozen up because the temperature had dropped just before sunrise," he said.
Salt trucks were called out. "We needed to elimate the chances of more collisions from occurring," Frank said.
But overall, "We've had some isolated slick spots -- bridges, overpasses," Frank said. "There's been no major problems this time."
In Baltimore County, the greatest risk today was flooding in areas where drainage pipes had been blocked by snow, said David Fidler, a county spokesman. "We had no reports of major problems."
At Baltimore-Washington International Airport, 14 flights were canceled today because of weather conditions in other East Coast cities, said said Cheryl Carley, a BWI spokeswoman.
Sixty-six flights were canceled yesterday across all carriers because of the region's freezing rain, she said.
"By afternoon, things were back to where they should have been," Carley said. "Many people just wanted to be sure that there wouldn't be any problems at their destinations."
But while clear roads generally made for a better morning commute, nearly 2,700 residents around the region were without power because of downed power lines.
Some schools remained closed because they lacked power, and others opened on time or modified their schedules.
"Today, it's warm," said Dewey Walston, a meterologist with the National Weather Service, noting temperatures that were expected to reach into the upper 40s this afternoon. Temperatures remained above freezing most of the morning.
"Our normal high is in the 50s," Walston said. "We've been in a cold pattern for the past week, but it's slowly getting back to normal."
Today's warmer weather is melting last week's snow, and that's been a boom to the area's waterways, Walston said. "Some of our rivers were high, but they didn't crest."
Walston said the recent steady precipitation has led Weather Service hydrologists to recommend lifting drought restrictions in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.
He said "mild" drought restrictions would be recommended for the central part of the state -- including Baltimore City, as well as for Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford and Howard counties.
In addition, mild restrictions would remain in northern portions of Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties.
"The well levels are high, the mainstream rivers are high," Walston said. "Those [mild] restrictions will probably disappear in one or two weeks if we continue in this wet pattern."
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. reported that most of the 2,700 residents lacking power in the region were in Carroll County. Power was expected to be restored today, a spokeswoman said.
Many roads were dry and passable, and several minor accidents were reported because some streets had frozen up before sunrise. Still, local officials kept salt crews out to keep roads clear.
"We're holding up pretty well," said Kathy Chopper, a spokeswoman for the Baltimore City Office of Transportation. "More people are out and about, but the roads were pretty good to begin with, so we're doing OK."
Five to seven salt trucks have been working all night in each of the city's four sections, Chopper said. Many were back out this morning.
The trucks also are refilling the approximately 1,000 salt boxes around the city, she said. "Many people just went there to get salt for their sidewalks."
The city also dispatched four pothole crews to each section about 8 a.m. "The new problem is potholes," Chopper said. "We're trying to fill them before people call in to complain."
So far this morning, the city's 311 emergency complaint system has received nine pothole calls today, Chopper said. As of 9 a.m., a total of 30 calls had been made to 311 -- and 359 calls were received yesterday, she said.
In Anne Arundel County, Maryland State Police briefly closed Route 100 at Route 10 before sunrise after several minor fender-benders were reported, said Lt. Bud Frank.
"The road had frozen up because the temperature had dropped just before sunrise," he said.
Salt trucks were called out. "We needed to elimate the chances of more collisions from occurring," Frank said.
But overall, "We've had some isolated slick spots -- bridges, overpasses," Frank said. "There's been no major problems this time."
In Baltimore County, the greatest risk today was flooding in areas where drainage pipes had been blocked by snow, said David Fidler, a county spokesman. "We had no reports of major problems."
At Baltimore-Washington International Airport, 14 flights were canceled today because of weather conditions in other East Coast cities, said said Cheryl Carley, a BWI spokeswoman.
Sixty-six flights were canceled yesterday across all carriers because of the region's freezing rain, she said.
"By afternoon, things were back to where they should have been," Carley said. "Many people just wanted to be sure that there wouldn't be any problems at their destinations."