Activities on Fairfax County government and school grounds will largely grind to a halt starting tonight (Saturday), as the region hunkers down for a potentially crippling snowstorm.
Fairfax County will close all of its facilities at 8 p.m. today through Sunday (Jan. 25) in anticipation of Winter Storm Fern, which is expected to bring snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice that could snarl roads and power lines for days.
The National Weather Service continues to pile on alerts for the potentially massive snowstorm barreling toward the D.C. area.
The agency has now upgraded a previously announced winter storm watch for the region, including Fairfax County, into a Winter Storm Warning that’s scheduled to take effect at 11 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) and remain in place until 4 a.m. Monday (Jan. 26).
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.
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.
As predicted, Fairfax County was hit by its second snowfall of the season overnight, though accumulations appear to have stopped short of the 1 to 3 inches forecast by the National Weather Service.
In anticipation of the winter weather, the Fairfax County Park Authority delayed opening its parks and facilities until 9 a.m. today (Sunday). Other county facilities opened on time.
Another snowstorm is expected to visit Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. region tomorrow (Sunday).
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory shortly after 9 a.m. that’s expected to take effect at midnight and continue until 10 a.m.
Though snow is no longer falling in Fairfax County, below-freezing temperatures could combine with drizzly weather to extend this morning’s tough travel conditions into the evening.
The National Weather Service issued a new Winter Weather Advisory for the D.C. region shortly before 1 p.m., warning of the potential for “very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges” tonight (Friday). The alert is scheduled to take effect from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday).
Snow has arrived in Fairfax County, creating slick, dangerous roads during this morning’s rush hour.
Richmond Highway has been closed in both directions in the Lorton area after “several vehicles … spun out” on the snow-covered road, the Fairfax County Police Department said shortly after 8 a.m.
A winter storm that could potentially hit the D.C. area tomorrow morning (Friday) has convinced Fairfax County Public Schools to give students a late start to the day.
All schools and central offices will open two hours late compared to their regularly scheduled start times tomorrow, FCPS announced, adding that a full closure is still possible depending on the actual weather conditions in the morning.
This winter is expected to be a little warmer than usual in Northern Virginia. But when inclement weather does hit, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will have thousands of trucks — with access to 120,000 tons of salt, 250,000 gallons of brine, and 25,000 tons of sand — ready to go.
During VDOT’s annual winter weather briefing for local government officials and the media on Nov. 17, staffers with the transportation agency and the National Weather Service (NWS) explained how they’re preparing — and what Northern Virginia residents can expect to see on the roads — over the coming months.
