Utilities Crews on High Alert for Later Today

Airlines, including United, Northwest and US Airways, canceled scores of flights in the D.C. area.

Southwest Airlines did not expect to begin flying again until this afternoon, said Beth Harbin, a company spokeswoman. Tim Smith, a spokesman for American Airlines, blamed weather in the Washington area and in Chicago for the cancellations of about 30 flights.

Forecasts of freezing rain and high winds worried local utilities.

Bob Dobkin, a Pepco spokesman, said tree limbs "will just snap off in the wind and be blown into the lines."

Dominion Virginia Power officials said that the utility rebuilt a large portion of its distribution system after the damage from Hurricane Isabel in 2003, adding poles and wires. "A great deal of the equipment is brand new and will be stronger," said Karl Neddenien, a Dominion spokesman. Metro said that it would deploy de-icing equipment to try to keep its trains operating today. It said bus operations would depend on road conditions, "so passengers should expect possible detours and delays."

On the highways yesterday, slick surfaces and icy conditions in Prince George's led to at least one serious accident. Two pedestrians were hit by a car about 1 p.m. near Routes 50 and 197 in Bowie, police said.

They were struck when a driver on eastbound Route 50 lost control of his vehicle after hitting an ice patch, state police said. The men were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

With road conditions expected to be poor today, many Valentine's Day bouquets were delivered yesterday. As for today, Vanessa Wilder, a sales representative at Caruso's florist in the District, said not to worry: "We do things through rain, sleet, hail or tornadoes."