Foggy Monday morning in D.C. area

WASHINGTON – A freezing rain advisory for much of the metro area has ended, and a dense fog advisory was in effect until noon.

Word of the potentially icy conditions prompted the Office of Personnel Management to open D.C.-area federal agencies at 11 a.m. All nonessential employees had the option of taking unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework, OPM said.

Several school systems — Alexandria, Prince William County and Stafford County — opened two hours late. Check the WTOP Closings and Delays page for additional delays. Several school systems, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, already had Monday as a scheduled day off.

The freezing rain advisory — meaning periods of freezing drizzle that will make roads slippery and travel difficult — was in effect for much of the D.C. area.

“It’s just cold enough to put us on alert, but not cold enough to cause any widespread icing issues,” ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist Doug Hill says.

Fog was expected to be a problem throughout Monday morning. Visibility could be a quarter-mile or less, the National Weather Service said.

Rain will make another appearance Monday afternoon, with highs hitting the mid-40s, before dropping to about 40 tonight.

Federal Government

Due to the conditions, OPM delayed agency openings until 11 a.m.

“Ice is something we don’t play around with — at all,” said Director for the Office of Personnel Management John Berry on WTOP.

Employees who commute will be excused for any delayed arrival, or will be granted an excused absence, OPM says.

Emergency employees are expected to be at work on time unless otherwise directed by their agencies.

For more information, check OPM’s website.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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