Drivers faced slick roads Tuesday morning as a wintry mix moved through Maryland, with even colder weather on the way.

The wintry mix showered about one-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain across Central Maryland Tuesday, Luis Rosa, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington, said. The low-pressure system moving onto the East Coast hit parts of Western Maryland with snow and sleet.

Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties saw 2, 3.3 and 1.5 inches of snowfall respectively Tuesday, Rosa said. Parts of Maryland closer to Washington, D.C., saw about 0.89 inches of rain, Rosa shared.

Several school districts were closed or started late, and crews were out early treating roads, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Officials urged drivers to slow down, allow extra time for travel and increase following distance between cars.

Steady, moderate rain continued through 2 p.m. in Baltimore, said Kyle Palazzi, also a meteorologist at the NWS Baltimore/Washington forecast office.

The NWS issued a hazardous-weather outlook for Central Maryland, where Interstate 95 cuts through parts of Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties. A gale warning is also in effect from this afternoon through evening, with strong wind gusts possible near the bay.

Parts of Allegany and Garrett counties remain under a Winter Weather Advisory for mixed precipitation and possible ice accumulations until 10 p.m., according to the NWS.

Temperatures will hover in the low 30s to the low 40s from Tuesday evening through Wednesday, Palazzi said. Thursday will get even colder, with a low of 24 degrees, and the weekend is set up to stay below freezing through Saturday night.

Montgomery County has already issued an extreme cold alert from 4 p.m. Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

Rosa said the snow event expected on Friday may be even less significant than Tuesday and will likely just amount to rain.

Weather closings and delays

Several school districts announced delays and closures Tuesday morning. Public schools in Carroll, Cecil, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties started two hours late. Schools in Frederick and Harford counties were closed.

Garrett County also declared liberal leave for nonemergency essential employees until 11 a.m., and Howard County government also announced liberal leave through 10 a.m.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the “Holiday on Holliday”, a tree lighting event at City Hall was postponed from Tuesday to Dec. 11.