Updated at 12:25 p.m. — Firefighters are warning about dangerous conditions and fire due to downed wires as power company workers respond.
Fairfax Connector has suspended bus service due to the “deteriorating road conditions” caused by the ongoing snowstorm. Buses currently in operation will complete their routes.
Earlier: Fairfax County’s first snow of the season started falling early this morning (Monday) and has kept up a steady pace ever since, making roads hazardous while closing schools and many office jobs.
Heavy snow is expected with 5 to 10 inches accumulating, according to an updated National Weather Service winter storm warning for Fairfax County and much of the D.C. region that began at 1 a.m. and will continue through 4 p.m.
The heaviest amounts are projected to fall near and south of Route 50, with heavier snow running through the early afternoon, the NWS predicted.
“State plows are now on the roads,” Fairfax County said around 8:50 a.m. on Twitter. “If you’re out driving, please give them space.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation now has a website that allows users to track the progress of its snow plows.
As of 8 a.m. Virginia State Police responded to 82 traffic crashes across the Commonwealth and advised people to stay off roads.
“No injuries, just stuck/damaged vehicles caused by folks going too fast for conditions,” VSP said on Twitter.
#VSP's responding to 82 traffic crashes across #Virginia as of 8 AM 1/3/22. No injuries, just stuck/damaged vehicles caused by folks going too fast for conditions. Pls stay off the roads. Limit travel only if necessary. Photo of Rte 29 at Rte 15 in #Culpeper Co. @VaDOTCULP pic.twitter.com/L4hDaSVOdm
— VA State Police (@VSPPIO) January 3, 2022
The Fairfax County Police Department reported that several roads had been closed due to snow as of 11:30 a.m., including:
- Route 1 at Jeff Todd Way in Mount Vernon as well as Route 1 at Lockheed Boulevard nearby
- Route 1 at Lockheed Boulevard just east of Huntley Meadows Park
- Hunter Mill Road at Cedar Pond Drive near Reston
- Telegraph Road at Rose Drive in Groveton
A resident reported around 8:40 a.m. that several vehicles were stuck on Richmond Highway in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County.
Richmond Hwy in the Alexandria section of Fairfax county is a hot mess right now. It appears it hasn’t been treated at all and several vehicles are stuck and idle. @nbcwashington @AdamTuss @capitalweather @VaDOT pic.twitter.com/pVzSS03HS3
— Nawal Atallah (@PaliNawali) January 3, 2022
Federal and local government offices have been closed for the day. The Fairfax County government closures include the courts, all Park Authority facilities and programs, and COVID-19 vaccination sites.
After announcing last night (Sunday) that schools would be closed to students with no virtual learning, Fairfax County Public Schools expanded its closure this morning to include all offices and COVID-19 testing sites.
❄️ UPDATED WEATHER ALERT FOR JAN. 3. 2022
FCPS Schools and Offices Closed Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. In-person and virtual learning are canceled. COVID testing sites are closed.
Details: https://t.co/zNBBMjWGwr pic.twitter.com/whNlUHy2cF
— Fairfax Schools 🌟 (@fcpsnews) January 3, 2022
The snow is affecting transit as well as drivers. While trains are currently operating as usual, Metro has now suspended bus service “due to rapidly deteriorating weather and hazardous road conditions throughout the region.”
“All buses currently in operation with customers will operate to the end of the line to complete their routes if safe to do so,” the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said. “All other buses will hold at stops until roads are passable and safe to resume service.”
Metrorail remains in operation. De-icer trains and heaters have been deployed in an effort to keep rail lines free of snow and ice.
“Metro customers should allow additional travel time and use caution on platforms, escalators, parking lots and other areas that may be slippery,” WMATA said in a news release last night. “Metro will have plows and equipment deployed throughout the system to clear and treat parking lots, walkways and platforms.”
Recent Stories
Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar. 🕗 News recap The following articles were published earlier…
A 24-year-old man from Alexandria is facing multiple criminal charges for allegedly shooting a man he was trying to rob in Bailey’s Crossroads. Alexandria City police arrested Abner Neftali Selen…
Sushi Umi has arrived in Tysons. The Japanese restaurant began accepting pick-up orders at 7615 Colshire Road in the Scotts Run neighborhood on April 19 and quietly opened to dine-in…
In the future, Herndon hopes to see a vast swath of land near its Metro station transformed from aging, auto-centric commercial lots into a mixed-use, interconnected neighborhood. That vision solidified…
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
Pedal with Petals Family Bike Ride
Join us on Saturday, May 11th and ride into spring during our Pedal with Petals Family Bike Ride. Back for its second year, Pedal with Petals is going to be bigger than ever. This year’s event will include both an
Encore Creativity for Older Adults at Capital One Hall
Encore Creativity for Older Adults is pleased to raise the curtain and welcome community members to its spring concert at Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA on May 4, 2024. The concert, which starts at 3 PM, will bring hundreds
