With an estimated 2 feet of snow on the way, Maryland highway officials are expecting the peak evening travel time to come a couple hours early.

A State Highway Administration spokeswoman said the agency's experience with snowstorms like the one expected to engulf Maryland today and tomorrow suggests that the heaviest traffic could come at midafternoon, with volumes slacking off before sunset.

The spokeswoman said the morning rush hours into both Baltimore and Washington were especially light this morning, offeing some relief for the motorists who did venture out. Liberal leave policy is in effect for state workers, alllowing thousands of drivers to get an early start home.