Dave Sweet

WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (CNN) The D.C. metro area was greeted with more snow than many expected Monday morning.

“This is a fluid situation. We have bands of snow,” said meteorologist Brian Jackson of the National Weather Service. “It was heavy snow and we had to adjust the forecast according to that.”

Jackson says 4-6 inches is expected to fall in the D.C. metro area as a Winter Storm Warning is in affect.

“We’re expecting snow from mid-day to the afternoon to continue, and then sleet to take over from south to north,” said Jackson.

Icy roads are likely, considering temperatures well below freezing and an influx of sleet and rain later in the day. Jackson says overnight that sleet will turn to rain and make Tuesday morning commutes a potential hazard.

Monday morning was already bad enough for several Virginia residents. As of noon 52 vehicle crashes were reported statewide, one of which was fatal. Additionally a tractor-trailer carrying 33 cows overturned in Frederick County. Six of them were killed and six others escaped.

“With these temperatures in the 19-20 degree range, there’s always potential for the roads to re-freeze very quickly,” said Jennifer McCord with Virginia Department of Transportation. “We hope you’re not on the road but if you are slow down, and use caution.”

(Photo: Dave Sweet)