Expect partly sunny skies and a high around 43, accompanied by light west winds shifting to a 12-17 mph northwest breeze and gusts up to 24 mph. Friday night will bring mostly cloudy conditions, a low of about 10, and wind chills as low as -8. A blustery 17-25 mph northwest wind will blow, with gusts potentially reaching 36 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and other state officials discuss their preparations for an expected winter storm on Jan. 22, 2026 (via Abigail Spanberger/YouTube)
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger declared a State of Emergency today (Thursday), as the D.C. region steels for what could be its biggest snowstorm in years.
With the National Weather Service predicting significant snowfall starting Saturday night (Jan. 24), Spanberger and other state officials urged residents across the Commonwealth to make preparations now to stay at home throughout the weekend and potentially into the coming week.
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A Republic Services garbage truck in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Trash haulers across Northern Virginia are reacting negatively to Fairfax County’s proposed overhaul of residential waste collections.
At a forum hosted yesterday (Wednesday) by the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), those in the industry said the current structure — where residents and homeowners’ associations can pick among private firms or, in some cases, opt for government service — is working well.
Teso Life opened its first Virginia store in Centreville (staff photo by Emily Leayman)
An already busy Centreville shopping center flanked by H Mart, Spa World and various eateries was even more crowded than usual when the Japanese department store Teso Life opened last Friday (Jan. 16).
The chain carries a variety of Japanese and other Asian home goods, food, personal care items and more. Its new location in the Old Centreville Crossing shopping center (13860 Braddock Road) is the first in Virginia and the second in the D.C. region, following an opening in Rockville, Maryland, in 2024.
The roll-top observatory at Turner Farm Park (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)
Light pollution continues to be a concern in the populous Northern Virginia region, but one Fairfax County park has taken steps to protect the night sky.
DarkSky International has designated Turner Farm (925 Springvale Road) in Great Falls as an International Dark Sky Urban Night Sky Place, a certification reflecting its efforts to protect the night sky from light pollution. The Fairfax County Park Authority noted that Turner Farm is one of a few places to view a relatively dark sky near D.C.
New terminal for Dulles Airport proposed by Bermello Ajamil and Partners (via Zaha Hadid Architects)
A building exclusively for diplomatic visits, an autonomous shuttle system and a conversion of its distinctive main terminal into a museum are just some of the changes that could be in store for Dulles International Airport.
The U.S. Department of Transportation requested proposals in early December for ways to “revitalize” the airport on the Fairfax/Loudoun county border, claiming that it’s in “a state of disrepair” and already-planned renovations are “insufficient” for a global gateway to the nation’s capital.
A sign marks a snow emergency route prioritized for plowing in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The McLean Chocolate Festival has been postponed, and other events across Fairfax County are likely to follow, as a potentially major snow storm bears down on the D.C. region.
Originally set for this Sunday (Jan. 25), the McLean Chocolate Festival will instead return for its 14th year on Sunday, March 15, the Rotary Club of McLean announced yesterday. It will be held at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The customizable wrapper station at the Hershey Super Sweet Adventure (photo courtesy Kyle Flubacker/OGX Productions)
Update — Hershey Super Sweet Adventure announced in late February that its opening at Tysons Corner Center will be postponed “due to unexpected permitting delays.”
“We appreciate our guests’ understanding and apologize for any inconvenience. We are contacting ticket holders and will share our new opening date in the coming days,” the company said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming families soon.”
A train stops at the Spring Hill Metro station near Tysons West (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Nonprofit Shut Down for Candy Bar Sales Scheme — “Attorneys General from D.C., Maryland and Virginia announced on Tuesday that two local non-profits will shut down permanently for exploiting kids from low-income neighborhoods selling candy bars door-to-door without proof of compensation.” An investigation found that leaders of Maryland Youth Club and Virginia Youth Club, which is based in Fairfax County, was using the funds raised for their personal benefit. [WUSA9]
Defense Calls Witnesses in Double Murder Trial — “The defense attorney for Brendan Banfield, accused in the murder of his wife and a stranger in an alleged plot to end up in a relationship with the family au pair, started calling witnesses, including experts in digital forensics, to testify early Wednesday.” Judge Penney Azcarate noted at the end of the day that the courthouse could close early next week if there’s a lot of snow this weekend, but the trial remains “ahead of schedule.” [DC News Now]
Voting Access Bills Advance — “With the 2026 General Assembly session in full swing, Democrats on Tuesday advanced a slate of voting and campaign finance measures aimed at expanding access to the ballot box and increasing transparency in elections,” including one sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek that would establish an online campaign finance portal similar to the platform currently offered by the Virginia Public Access Project. [Virginia Mercury]
New Va. Attorney General Outlines Vision — “Jay Jones took swift action after taking the oath of office on Saturday and becoming the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 49th attorney general. The Democrat joined on to several existing state lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration and reversed several opinions issued by his Republican predecessor,” following through on a campaign promise to “push back against federal overreach.” [VPM News]
Former Reality TV Star Challenges Warner — “Another candidate has entered a challenge against Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) in the lawmaker’s first primary election in his 18 years on the Senate. Mark Moran, a former reality television star and Wall Street investment banker who lives in Falls Church,” says he would prioritize cost-of-living issues if elected and support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, among other plans. [ARLnow]
Theft Reported at Home Depot in Fairfax — “City of Fairfax police are asking the public’s help in identifying two men who they say stole $1,284 worth of merchandise from a city business on Friday. On Tuesday, police released photos of the two men who stole the merchandise from the Home Depot store located at 3201 Blenheim Blvd.” [Patch]
Police Facility Nearing Construction Finish — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s new building for its Operations Support Bureau is expected to open in February, says project manager James Sun. That’s three years after the facility, at 3911 Woodburn Road in Annandale, was originally supposed to be completed.” [Annandale Today]
Burlington Possibly Coming to Chantilly — “A new store is planned for Chantilly Crossing. The shopping center will soon be home to Burlington, which is set to take over part of the space previously occupied by Office Depot and Party City,” according to a site plan from property owner Kite Realty Group Trust. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 51, with southwest winds at 7 to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon and gusting up to 20 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low around 29 and a light northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
