Fairfax County Public Schools will join its neighbors in Arlington and Alexandria in opening two hours late tomorrow (Wednesday).
FCPS announced the two-hour delay in response to a Cold Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service, which predicts that temperatures could drop as low as 5 degrees below zero tonight (Tuesday).
The advisory will take effect at midnight and is currently scheduled to remain in place until 11 a.m.
“Use caution while traveling outside. Dress in layers, and wear a hat and gloves,” the advisory says, warning that not taking precautions could lead to hypothermia.
The frigid temperatures will refreeze snow and ice still on the ground from the snowstorm that hit the D.C. region on Jan. 6 and from this past Sunday (Jan. 19), though Fairfax County saw only a coating this weekend compared to the multiple inches that were predicted.
FCPS central offices will open at 10 a.m. tomorrow. More from FCPS on the delay:
- Morning preschool (special education) classes are canceled.
- Afternoon preschool classes start on their regular schedule.
- Full-day preschool (special education) and Early Head Start/PreK classes start two hours later than the regular schedule.
- Morning field trips are canceled.
- Morning transportation for high school academy classes is canceled. Transportation will be provided for academy classes that start after 12:45 p.m.
- Adult High School and GED courses will start two hours late.
- Adult and Community Education (ACE) classes will start on time.
- Homebound and home-based instruction will begin at 10 a.m.
- School Age Child Care (SACC) centers will open at 8 a.m.
According to the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management, community members should call the police department’s non-emergency number at 703-691-2131 if they see someone who doesn’t have shelter and might be at risk of hypothermia. If the person is in immediate distress, call 911.
The county’s Hypothermia Prevention Program is underway through the end of March.
“Since 2005, the Hypothermia Prevention Program has prevented death and serious injuries among Fairfax County most vulnerable residents by ensuring that no one must sleep outside during the winter months,” the county said in a blog post. “The program is available to any adult in need of immediate shelter.”
