D.C. area snow teams on alert for winter storm

Predictions vary on how much snow the Washington region will see this weekend. Forecasters say it will depend on the approaching storm's track. Right now, heavier accumulations are expected to the south of the Washington region. The Capital Weather Gang has the latest.

Meanwhile, Washington transportation agencies say they are preparing for whatever falls.

Metro warns that snowy and icy road conditions could affect Metrobus and MetroAccess service, causing detours and delays. You can use Next Bus on Metro's Web site to check how buses are doing or call 202-637-7000, say "Next Bus" and enter the ID of the bus stop. MetroAccess customers can call 301-562-5360 for the latest on scheduled rides.

No major delays are expected for Metrorail, which plans to operate de-icer trains overnight to help keep the electrified third rail clear.

The District Department of Transportation recently tweeted that its snow team is on alert. According to a statement, the District has pretreated many roads and bridges with a solution of salt, water and beet juice.

"All weather reports currently indicate the District will not see accumulations much above three inches but this is still a significant amount for our area," Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said in a news release. "Crews have already begun pre-treating and our deployment plans are being put into effect."

Information on the District's winter snow plan is available here.

Arlington County says its crews are also at the ready. Arlington residents may e-mail snow@arlingtonva or call the county's snow hot line at 703-228-6485.

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