Crisp, white snow coated the Baltimore region Monday, with more than 6 inches reported well before lunchtime in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

As the flakes trickled down, the streets fell quiet. Schools, businesses and government buildings closed. Traffic slowed. For some, it marked the first real snow day in some time — and the heaviest snowfall in years.

“It’s beautiful. It’s magical,” said Max Romano, 38. “It was hard to sleep last night waiting for the morning to come.”

Cross-country skis in tow, Romano trekked with his family to Wyman Park Dell early Monday. A group of neighbors in his Charles Village neighborhood met for hot chocolate and waffles before making a group excursion to the slope. He and Maya Kosok, 38, brought along their two young daughters, who smiled as their snow-suited bodies fell into the fluff.

The city saw around 4 inches of snow by mid-morning, with another 2 to 4 inches expected through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasts predict the storm will slow for a few hours in the afternoon before resuming from about 5 p.m. through about 10 p.m.

Young and old braved the cold for morning and afternoon play. Sleds flew off the shelves over the weekend. An eyeless snowman appeared first thing in the morning at the Fells Point pier. Boot and paw prints adorned sidewalks.

In Woodberry, some flocked indoors for a different kind of fun.

“We don’t close for anything,” said Kelly Mullinix from behind the bar of the Clipper Mill Inn.

The bartender had arrived at 7 a.m., just like any other day, to open the longtime dive. At the affectionately nicknamed “Bloody Bucket,” someone had shattered the front window and burglarized the bar overnight, Mullinix said.

The crew cleaned up the mess and boarded the window. They then shoveled the sidewalk, spread salt and opened.

”People get a little rowdy with the first snow,” Mullinix said.

It wasn’t all fun and games. Dozens lost power Monday morning as cold temperatures swept into the East Coast from central and southern U.S. Public transit routes shut down. Shovels hit the pavement as some commuters had no choice but to free their cars.

A layer of white powder covered the tarmac at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where travelers faced some canceled flights.

By mid-afternoon, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City said schools would be closed on Tuesday.

List: Baltimore-area schools closing Tuesday from winter storm

The Maryland State Highway Administration, which maintains the state’s numbered highways outside Baltimore, has deployed its full staff, with about 2,600 pieces of equipment in action, spokesman Charlie Gischlar said. Crews pretreated the roads on Friday night with a salt brine solution, which prevents snow and ice from initially bonding onto the pavement and turns precipitation into a slush.

Crews, he said, will remain out overnight treating the roads.

Baltimore issued a Code Blue Extreme Cold alert for Jan. 4 through Jan. 11, which activates a shelter-in-place response at city-funded shelters. The Baltimore City Health Department encouraged people to stay indoors whenever possible and check on vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with total snow accumulations reaching 6 to 10 inches. Up to 12 inches of snow are possible in some pockets of the state, according to the agency, which cautioned that untreated and unplowed roads may become impassable. State officials discouraged travel and urged “extreme caution” when necessary.

In an afternoon news release, Mayor Brandon Scott said he expected the city to reopen Tuesday. An official decision was expected by Monday evening.

During a midday interview with WYPR radio from Baltimore’s Emergency Operations Center, the mayor urged city residents to be patient when submitting 311 requests for plowing and other needs.

”It will get done,” Scott said. “They will get to you.”

This article may be updated.

Baltimore Banner reporters Alissa Zhu, Darreonna Davis, Dylan Segelbaum, Tim Prudente and Lee Sanderlin contributed to this story.