More than 6 inches of snow falls overnight

More than 7 inches of snow fell across parts of the region by Monday, making it the snowiest March here since 1993.

As of 8 a.m., the National Weather Service reported 7.9 inches of snow at BWI Airport, the point of record for Baltimore. The record for March 17 is 5 inches, set in 1931, but it was unlikely to be broken with most of BWI's snowfall coming before midnight Monday.

Other snow totals included 9.5 inches near Elkridge and Pasadena, 9 inches in Severna Park, 8.5 inches in Ellicott City, 7.5 inches near Oella, 7.6 inches in White Marsh, 7.2 inches in Highlandtown, 7 inches in Phoenix, 6.5 inches in Eldersburg and 6 inches near Bel Air. The heaviest snow totals were expected south and west of Baltimore, with bands of heavy snow overnight.

The snowfall makes for at least 11.7 inches so far this month at BWI, the most there in any March since 12.7 inches fell in 1993.

The most recent incidence of measurable snow in Baltimore on March 17 was in 1967, when 0.4 inches fell, while a trace of snow fell on that date in 2007. In 1965, 4.3 inches fell on St. Patrick's Day here.

A winter storm warning was in effect for the entire region through 2 p.m., with light snow expected to continue into the afternoon.

Schools across the region closed, as did federal offices. City workers were on liberal leave.

Relatively few flight disruptions were reported, with 8 percent of departures and 5 percent of arrivals canceled at BWI, according to FlightAware.com. But 19 percent of departures and 13 percent of arrivals were delayed.

Blustery winds from 10-20 mph were expected to make morning low temperatures in the mid-20s feel like the teens. Temperatures are expected to stay below freezing all day, with highs around 30 degrees and wind chills in the 20s.

Cloudy skies are expected after the snow stops, with overnight lows into Tuesday in the upper 20s.

Tuesday, temperatures could reach 40 degrees mostly cloudy skies, with a chance for a wintry mix of precipitation Tuesday night. Precipitation could continue as rain Wednesday, with chances for showers throughout the day.

Highs Wednesday could approach 50 degrees.

A return to more seasonable weather was expected by Thursday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-50s, and Friday, with highs in the lower 60s and mostly sunny skies.