Worried about unexpected vet bills?
Pet insurance can cover thousands in unexpected vet costs. Get a free quote from Lemonade in under 2 minutes.
Get My Free Quote →Sponsored · Opens Lemonade.com
A Meteorological Rarity Strikes (Image Credits: Flickr)
D.C. region – Residents navigated a distinctive winter assault Sunday as prolonged sleet layered thick ice pellets atop fresh snow from an overnight storm.[1][2]
A Meteorological Rarity Strikes
Extended heavy sleet proved the standout feature of the weekend weather event. Most areas recorded five to six inches of snow before the mix shifted Sunday morning.[1]
WTOP meteorologist Matt Ritter explained the phenomenon. Warm air aloft refroze raindrops into pellets near the ground, despite surface temperatures hovering around 20 degrees. Reports indicated two to three inches of sleet accumulation in several spots, compacting the underlying snow.[1]
WTOP’s Dave Dildine highlighted its infrequency. “Sleet is a common form of wintry precipitation, but extended periods of heavy sleet are pretty rare,” he noted. The last comparable occurrence dated back to Valentine’s Day 2007.[1]
Snow and Sleet Tallies Vary Widely
Snowfall peaked near nine inches across the region, with sleet adding substantial weight. The National Weather Service tracked measurements from official stations and spotters.
| Location | Snow (inches) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksburg, MD | 10.8 | Emergency manager |
| Leesburg, VA | 8.3 | By 4 p.m. |
| Herndon, VA | 7.6 | By 2 p.m. |
| BWI Airport, MD | 7.6 | By 3:16 p.m. |
| Anacostia, DC | 7 | Trained spotter |
These figures underscored uneven distribution. Sleet overlaid much of the snowpack, reaching three inches or more in isolated areas.
Impacts Ripple Through Daily Life
Icy roads prompted widespread caution. Side streets awaited plows as crews prioritized arteries, complicated by potential freezing rain Sunday night.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins addressed the challenge. Her team monitored for ice accretion that could delay neighborhood access. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich reported similar hurdles, with ice coatings expected on secondary routes.
Schools acted swiftly. Systems in Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William counties in Virginia, and Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties in Maryland canceled Monday classes. Federal employees received maximum telework or safety leave options.[1]
- Increased emergency visits for hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, per Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
- Utility providers like Pepco and Dominion warned of outage risks from ice-laden lines.
- Pets faced threats from ice melt chemicals, veterinarian Sophie Kindberg-Hanlon cautioned.
Deep Freeze Prolongs the Ordeal
Precipitation tapered by 10 p.m. Sunday, but Ritter forecasted no thaw for a week. Ritter described the mess as freezing “like solid rock.”
Tonight brought lows in the teens under partly cloudy skies. Monday offered blustery highs in the mid-20s to low 30s, followed by persistent cold through midweek.
Key Takeaways
- Rare prolonged sleet layered 2-3 inches over 5-9 inches of snow.
- Cleanup stalls amid subfreezing temperatures for days.
- Officials urge caution on roads, with power and health risks elevated.
This uncommon sleet event amplified a standard snowstorm into a prolonged hazard. How is the weather affecting your plans this week? Tell us in the comments.
Worried about unexpected vet bills?
Pet insurance can cover thousands in unexpected vet costs. Get a free quote from Lemonade in under 2 minutes.
Get My Free Quote →Sponsored · Opens Lemonade.com
- South Texas Eyes U.S. Record for Hottest Winter Temperature With 106°F Inferno in February - May 9, 2026
- Bats Play a Crucial Role in Controlling Insect Populations Across the United States - April 30, 2026
- The Recovery of the California Condor Offers Hope for Other Critically Endangered Birds - April 30, 2026