Countywide

Fairfax County could be visited by some wintry weather on Christmas Eve.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the county and other parts of the D.C. area in anticipation of freezing rain and a potential “dusting” of snow tomorrow (Tuesday) from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Around Town

Tysons Corner Center and Fair Oaks Mall are getting into the winter holiday spirit with Santa Claus gliding into both shopping centers tomorrow (Thursday).

At Fair Oaks, the man in red will set up shop for photo sessions at Santa’s Flight Academy in Center Court, starting around 2 p.m. Tysons Corner Center will greet Santa with a VIP arrival event from 10 a.m. to noon on the mall’s lower level near Wasabi.


Countywide

After several light-snow winters, transportation and weather experts are gearing up for yet another mild season in Northern Virginia.

The National Weather Service’s (NWS) D.C. and Baltimore office expects above-average temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic, which likely means more ice and rain than snow this winter.


Around Town

For a third consecutive winter, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II (8025 Galleria Drive) will be illuminated by a thousand handmade Chinese lanterns.

The Winter Lantern Festival will return to Tysons for an over-two-month run, starting next Thursday, Oct. 31 until Jan. 12, 2025. The event will be open to visitors from 5-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays.


News

As the heat of summer starts to fade, some Fairfax County churches are refocusing their charitable efforts on the community’s needs for the coming winter.

With support from the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, four churches in the county launched a winter coat drive earlier this month with the goal of collecting 10,000 coats for refugees, people experiencing homelessness and other community members in need.


Around Town

Though fall hasn’t officially arrived yet, Reston is already dreaming of hot cocoa and snow in anticipation of the return of Winterfest.

Reston Association announced last Tuesday (Sept. 17) that the three-day festival will return on Dec. 5, 6 and 7 from 5-7 p.m. at Brown’s Chapel Park (1575 Browns Chapel Road).


News

McLean’s Winterfest Parade is reawakening after an extended hibernation.

The McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC) announced earlier this month that the once-annual celebration will return on Dec. 8 for the first time since 2018. Coupled with a free movie screening tonight (Friday), the parade’s revival reflects a shift in the nonprofit’s efforts to boost activity in downtown McLean.


News

With cooler temperatures returning after an unseasonably warm Friday (Jan. 26), a nonprofit headquartered in Reston is putting out a call for winter clothes to distribute to homeless adults throughout Northern Virginia.

An operator of wellness centers that assist people experiencing challenges with mental illness, substance use and homelessness, the Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia (RPSV) launched a winter gear clothing drive earlier this month that will continue until the end of the season.


Countywide

The D.C. area is expected to be hit with another round of snow tomorrow (Friday), prompting Fairfax County Public Schools to call for its second snow day this week.

All schools and central offices will be closed tomorrow, FCPS announced at 5:25 p.m. today. The closure includes extracurricular activities, field trips and other events on school grounds.


Countywide

The season’s first winter storm is making its way toward the D.C. region, though the chances for serious snow in Fairfax County are iffy.

Instead, the county is expected to get a slushy mix of rain, snow and sleet, starting tomorrow (Saturday) morning. The precipitation could add up to an inch of snow and sleet accumulations, along with “a light glaze” of ice, according to a Winter Weather Advisory issued today by the National Weather Service.


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