A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Baltimore County.

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Get your snow shovels ready, because wintry weather is on the way. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Baltimore County.

The warning calls for 4 to 8 inches of snow. Heavy snow is expected from Saturday, Jan. 12, to Sunday, Jan. 13.

A winter storm warning means that travel will be hazardous or impossible.

The winter storm warning is in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday for Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties as well as Baltimore City.

Those who must travel should keep a flashlight, food and water in their vehicles in case of emergency.

The Jewish Community Center of Baltimore closed the Weinberg Park Heights JCC for the night on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Gordon Center show scheduled for Saturday is also canceled.

Because of the weather, Monday morning commutes and school openings may be affected, according to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); below-freezing temps Sunday night may leave "lingering impacts of the storm in certain areas," MEMA advised.

Baltimore County officials say they are prepared.

"...we are ready at the first flake to get the roads salted and plowed as quickly as possible, and we ask for people's patience as our crews work the storm," County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a statement on Friday, Jan. 11. "Protecting public safety is the top priority when winter weather hits."

In less than 6 inches of snow, Baltimore County crews typically clear roads within 24 hours.

If snowfall exceeds 6 inches, plows require about 48 hours after the event to clear roads.

Plows begin on major county arteries like Joppa Road, Dundalk Avenue, Rolling Road and Owings Mills Boulevard, then move on to feeder roads such as Goucher Boulevard and Lyons Mill Road, before plowing neighborhood streets and courts. 

In very heavy snowfall, crews focus on main roads.

Track plowing progress on the Baltimore County Stormfighter page.

Residents can report storm-related issues like unplowed streets 24 hours after the snow stops in several ways:

See a map of warnings and watches across the state from the National Weather Service.