Early release Monday?

[Anonymous]

I know of two medical offices in MoCo that are closing at lunchtime today (shifting afternoon appointments to virtual if possible).

I’m baffled by the posters kvetching about mcps closing early—especially since neighboring counties are doing the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M canceled classes today. Many - if not all - school districts in NC and VA are canceling school today or doing early dismissal. It's just not MCPS.

Do you have any closer examples? What are our neighboring counties doing? The timing and severeity of the severe weather is not necessarily the same in southern VA and NC.

I'm sure you could easily look yourself on wtop.com: https://wtop.com/closings-and-delays/

All of the surrounding school districts in Maryland and DC are closing early today: Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, Prince George's county, Charles County, Howard County (closing 3 hours early), St. Mary's, Washington County, Frederick County (closing 3 hours early), DC Public Schools.

[Anonymous]

What time are the massive winds supposed to start? So far it seems pretty calm out there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What time are the massive winds supposed to start? So far it seems pretty calm out there

Between 3-6pm. Do people really not know how to look this up? Capital Weather Gang? Any of the local news stations/websites?

[Anonymous]

A first round of storms could affect areas west and then north of D.C. between 11 a.m and 1 p.m.; a few could be severe. The greatest concern is a probable line of strong to severe storms between 3 and 6 p.m. capable of producing damaging winds and tornadoes. Highs around 70.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/03/16/dc-weather-live-updates-severe-storms-tornadoes/

[Anonymous]

Intense storms near Culpeper will sweep northeast into the southwest portion of the D.C. region over the next hour, arriving in Fauquier County around 11 a.m., Loudoun County closer to 11:30 a.m and Frederick County closer to noon. The storms could also scrape western Montgomery County between noon and 1 p.m. These storms could produce damaging wind gusts and there’s a slight chance they could spawn a tornado.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service says there is a 60 percent chance it will issue a tornado watch for much of the region. It says this first round of storms could produce some tornado activity but says the “primary threat” for twisters will come in the second round, most likely between 3 and 6 p.m. That said, it suggests tornadoes are not necessarily a lock and depend on how storms evolve and how effectively they can tap into available energy. So far widespread cloudinnes has limited available energy, but that could change this afternoon.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/03/16/dc-weather-live-updates-severe-storms-tornadoes/

[Anonymous]

They did the right thing regarding child care today - left it up to providers. Ours is closing at 2pm, which makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time are the massive winds supposed to start? So far it seems pretty calm out there

Between 3-6pm. Do people really not know how to look this up? Capital Weather Gang? Any of the local news stations/websites?

To be fair, some meteorologists were predicting as early as 11 AM and I think some of the forecasting has changed, but it’s a lot to keep up with because so many opinions on timing and it’s changed from yesterday to this am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time are the massive winds supposed to start? So far it seems pretty calm out there

Between 3-6pm. Do people really not know how to look this up? Capital Weather Gang? Any of the local news stations/websites?

To be fair, some meteorologists were predicting as early as 11 AM and I think some of the forecasting has changed, but it’s a lot to keep up with because so many opinions on timing and it’s changed from yesterday to this am.

+1 I think MCPS made the right call. Early release is tough, if families don't have notice they won't know to pick up their kids, so this can't be a last minute call. I think it's worth missing a couple hours of school to avoid having kids and staff caught in a freaking tornado on their way home. Hopefully, there won't be tornados, but it is beyond reasonable to try to avoid having people get caught in one when there is a higher than usual probability.

[Anonymous]

Wind is ever so slightly picking up here in Bethesda... debating if I'll pick my kid up at school or have her take the bus (picking up will require cancelling a work call)

[Anonymous]

In case you didn’t get it just a moment ago - tornado warning issued for central MoCo. Tornado spotted in Poolesville.

[Anonymous]

https://member.everbridge.net/1332612387832009/weather/qBBB3qnTX

Tornado is headed towards Germantown and Clarksburg (11:45a)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://member.everbridge.net/1332612387832009/weather/qBBB3qnTX

Tornado is headed towards Germantown and Clarksburg (11:45a)

It says: "* At 1129 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Poolesville, moving northeast at 45 mph."

[Anonymous]

Are the kids hunkering down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time are the massive winds supposed to start? So far it seems pretty calm out there

Between 3-6pm. Do people really not know how to look this up? Capital Weather Gang? Any of the local news stations/websites?

To be fair, some meteorologists were predicting as early as 11 AM and I think some of the forecasting has changed, but it’s a lot to keep up with because so many opinions on timing and it’s changed from yesterday to this am.

Yeah I'm glad NWS finally issued some alerts for MoCo because it provided a little more clarity. My mom was not really taking this seriously until she got the alert on her phone, she was still planning to go to the Y this afternoon!