Severe traffic congestion was reported Sunday at Reagan National Airport, and authorities ascribed it in part to the closing this weekend of the Metro rail station that serves the airport.

The authority that operates the airport noted on Friday that the station was to be closed Saturday and Sunday for maintenance. It said buses would shuttle passengers from other stations.

However, motorists reported unusually severe congestion on roads through the airport. A Sunday night photograph posted by the airport showed lanes of cars jammed together, bumper to bumper, with only a few feet between the front of one and the back of the other.

It was characteristic of street conditions here during a rush hour snowstorm.

The airport advised allowing for extra time and said the congestion was "likely due to more cars on road" from the closure of the station.