A fast-moving winter storm swept across the Washington metropolitan area, delivering sharply uneven snowfall totals that left some neighborhoods digging out while others saw little more than flurries.

Meteorologists said the system tracked along a narrow corridor that favored heavier precipitation north and west of the District, where colder air was more firmly in place.

Suburbs in parts of northern Maryland and the Virginia Piedmont reported several inches of accumulation, while central Washington and communities to the south and east experienced a mix of rain and wet snow with limited buildup.

The storm’s patchwork impact was driven by a delicate balance of surface temperatures hovering near freezing and a mid-level band of moisture that intensified briefly before sliding offshore.

Small shifts in the storm’s track and in the rain-snow line made the difference between plowable snow and slushy roads.

Forecasters noted that a temperature variation of just one to two degrees separated accumulating snow from cold rain in many locations.

Commuters faced slick conditions during the morning hours in areas that received steadier snowfall, prompting school delays and localized traffic disruptions.

Transportation crews treated primary routes in advance, and airport operations reported minor delays but no widespread cancellations.

By afternoon, drier air filtered in from the west, tapering precipitation and allowing road crews to clear secondary streets where accumulation was greatest.

Temperatures were expected to remain near seasonal norms overnight, raising the possibility of refreezing on untreated surfaces.

Officials urged residents in harder-hit pockets to use caution on side roads and sidewalks, while acknowledging that the storm’s impact was highly localized.

The episode underscored the region’s vulnerability to marginal winter systems, where slight atmospheric shifts can create striking contrasts across short distances.