Countywide

Photos: FCPS cancels classes again as snow blankets Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey
1/13

Fairfax County students will get a second extra day of winter break.

After a midday lull, snow is starting to fall again across the D.C. area, prompting Fairfax County Public Schools to cancel classes and all activities on its grounds for tomorrow (Tuesday). School-aged child care centers are included in the closures, and all workers not designated as “essential” have been granted administrative leave again.

In a 2 p.m. update, the National Weather Service projected that another 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall before the storm exits the D.C. area around 11 p.m.

However, some services have been revived.

After suspending service this morning, Fairfax Connector began operating on a Sunday schedule at 2:30 p.m., serving the routes 171, 310, 401, 402, 463, 950 and RIBS 1. The county’s public bus system says it expects to follow a regular schedule on Tuesday, though lingering snow and ice could lead to “minor delays.”

“Passengers are encouraged to allow extra travel time and monitor updates on service conditions,” Fairfax Connector said.

Meanwhile, Fairfax County shared some tips for shoveling snow and controlling the use of salt for de-icing, noting that salt doesn’t work for melting snow if the pavement temperature is under 15 degrees.

“While salt helps get rid of ice, too much can be harmful to our drinking water, aquatic life, trees, vegetation, vehicles, pipes and infrastructure,” the county said. “So, don’t overdo it. Make sure you’re using just enough salt to get the job done.”

With as many as 6 to 12 inches of snow predicted, the Virginia Department of Transportation advised against driving, and many businesses around the county closed their doors for the day or had reduced hours.

As of 11 a.m. today, the Virginia State Police had responded to 33 vehicle crashes in Northern Virginia, including three that had reported injuries. Another 25 crashes occurred in the region between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., two with reported injuries.

“Virginia State Police has had troopers on 12-hour shifts since Sunday to deal with crashes on the roads. “Virginia State Police has also increased the number of troopers available,” the agency said, urging drivers to stay off the roads so VDOT can plow them.

Nationally, the storm has resulted in at least four deaths, all of them in vehicle crashes in Kansas and Missouri, according to NPR.

Some flights at Reagan National Airport were canceled, and Dulles International Airport urged passengers to only come to the airport if they had a confirmed flight.

Still, some Fairfax County residents — both human and animal — managed to get out into the snow, whether they were sledding, going for a walk or clearing driveways and sidewalks.

About the Author

  • Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.