Arlington and the rest of the D.C. region will be waking up to a white St. Patrick’s Day.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the region. The National Weather Service says 4-8 inches of snow is possible, with most of the flakes falling overnight. The Capital Weather Gang, however, predicts that much of Arlington and the District will only see 1-3 inches.
From the NWS:
… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM EDT MONDAY…
* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW
* ACCUMULATIONS… 4 TO 8 INCHES.
* TIMING… A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW EARLY THIS EVENING WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW BY MID EVENING. SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON MONDAY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
* TEMPERATURES… FALLING INTO THE LOWER 30S BY MID EVENING AND THEN DROPPING INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S LATE TONIGHT. HIGHS MONDAY IN THE LOWER 30S.
* WINDS… NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.
* IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY. TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS… ESPECIALLY TONIGHT THROUGH THE MORNING RUSH ON MONDAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD… AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
The Virginia Department of Transportation, meanwhile, is planning to deploy more than 2,000 snow removal trucks in Northern Virginia. From VDOT:
The Virginia Department of Transportation is preparing for another potential winter storm tonight, and advises drivers to stay off roads during freezing rain and snow expected through tomorrow morning.
Crews will mobilize by 6 p.m. today, and by midnight more than 2,000 trucks will be staged along interstates, major roads and neighborhood streets in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties.
Info for northern Virginia drivers and residents:
- Drivers are strongly advised to stay home during the storm, overnight tonight and into Monday morning.
- Crews will plow and treat interstates, major roads and neighborhoods concurrently.
- Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William residents can enter their address at www.vdotplows.org to see the status of plowing in their neighborhood.
- Park in your driveway or on the odd-numbered side of the street to allow plows room to pass.
- When shoveling, leave the last few feet at the curb until the street is plowed, as the truck will push some snow back. Shovel to the right facing the road.
- Chemicals are not used in subdivisions, but crews sand hills, curves and intersections to provide traction. For most storms, one snowplow pass, about eight to ten feet wide, is made.