Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich addressed widespread frustration over the county’s recent winter weather response in his weekly message, describing the past two weeks as among the most challenging weather events the region has faced in decades.
Elrich characterized the storm as a rare “snowcrete” event that combined snow, sleet, and prolonged freezing temperatures, creating conditions unlike a typical snowstorm. County weather officials testified that if the precipitation had fallen entirely as snow, totals could have exceeded 20 inches, a scenario the county is far better equipped to handle. Instead, layers of ice measuring several inches thick fundamentally altered the response.
According to Elrich, the sustained sleet changed how the storm behaved on roadways and neighborhoods. Standard snow removal tools proved ineffective, with residents reporting damaged shovels while attempting to break through hardened ice. Even initial plowing efforts led to additional complications, as snow pushed aside quickly refroze, trapping vehicles and preventing residents from clearing space for further plowing…