The snow, ice and freezing rain that caused major chaos on Maryland's roadways started to disappear today as area temperatures crept above the freezing mark.
"What was such a headache yesterday and last night will have pretty much turned to slush by this afternoon's rush hour," said Amet Figueroa, a National Weather Service forecaster at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
He said temperatures, reaching into mid-40s by late afternoon, would drop into the upper 30s overnight. Figueroa said the mercury could climb into the 50s tomorrow and into the 60s Sunday and Monday.
A lingering cloud cover, however, kept the mercury at below freezing in Baltimore and just above the freezing point near the airport at noon. Forecasters were sticking to their prediction that temperatures would eventually warm up.
Figueroa said 4 to 6 inches of snow fell in the Baltimore metropolitan area, with up to 9 inches reported in areas of Carroll County. Less snow fell south of the city.
The wet snow and freezing rain caused massive headaches for area police departments, as many motorists abandoned their vehicles at the height of yesterday's rush hour.
A state trooper at the Valley barracks said today that more than 60 vehicles were abandoned on the Beltway between Belair and Falls roads. He said those cars and trucks were allowed to remain on the shoulder of Interstate 695 until noon before towing operations started.
Phase one of the snow emergency plan -- which calls for snow tires, radials or chains on all vehicles -- was lifted in Anne Arundel County at 9 a.m. and at noon in the city, Baltimore and Harford counties. The plan was lifted at 12:30 p.m. in Carroll County and at 1 p.m. in Howard County.
Although police reported unnerving traffic jams and delays, no fatalities were reported because of the storm, 1990's first major snowfall.
Cumberland residents were hit hardest by the storm. A foot of snow fell there.
State Police Cpl. Lynn Knott said U.S. 48 -- between Martin's and Polish mountains -- was closed twice yesterday because of accidents and it remained "in terrible condition" today with dozens of cars and jackknifed tractor-trailers dotting the roadway.
"Normally, we can handle snow up here, but it was very slick and tricky; we've had a real bad mess," Knott said. At least 30 accidents and two serious injuries were reported, he said.
