A brief bout of flurries earlier this morning was the last precipitation to fall as a result of our latest winter storm. Now comes the wind.
A Wind Advisory is now in effect, until 10 p.m. tonight. Gusty winds up to 55 mph could bring down waterlogged trees and branches, knocking out power.
As of publication there are no outages of note in Arlington, though the wind should be its gustiest in the afternoon and evening hours.
More from the National Weather Service:
932 AM EST Mon Jan 17 2022
…WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.
* WHERE…The District of Columbia, portions of central, north central, northeast, northern and southern Maryland, northern, northwest and western Virginia and eastern West Virginia.
* WHEN…Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS…Damaging winds will likely blow down scattered trees and power lines. Scattered power outages are possible. Loose outdoor objects may be blown away or damaged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
A snow plow driving down Columbia Pike (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Slow traffic on I-66 in the snow (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Sunday afternoon snow in Westover last month (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Two people and their dog play in the snow at Swanson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Snow at Swanson Middle School in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Snowy grass in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Cars along Washington Blvd. in Westover have their wipers up (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Washington Blvd. in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Snow seen on traffic camera (via Arlington County)
Snow seen on traffic camera (via Arlington County)
Snow seen on traffic camera (via Arlington County)
Snow seen on traffic camera (via Arlington County)
Snow seen on traffic camera (via Arlington County)
Acme Pie closed due to snow storm (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Traffic on Columbia Pike in the snow (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Penrose Square in the snow (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Metrobus on the Columbia Pike in the snow (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Arlington Drafthouse in the snow (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
An ART bus driving in the snow on N. Courthouse Road (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Bob & Edith’s Diner in the snow (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Celtic House in snow (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Update at 5:45 p.m. — After a period of heavy snow, the transition to sleet and freezing rain is underway, potentially making travel even more hazardous.
There have been several reports of crashes around Arlington, including a crash that felled a county light pole and closed southbound George Mason Drive near S. Frederick Street. There are also reports of disabled vehicles partially blocking traffic, including a Mercedes reportedly stuck on Route 50 at Fillmore Street.
Despite the weather, some local businesses remained open tonight, including William Jeffrey’s Tavern and Caspi Restaurant along Columbia Pike, where customers could be seen inside eating and drinking while watching today’s playoff football games.
Conditions getting significantly worse with this heavy round of snow. Police have shut down SB George Mason in the area.
540p: after about 1-3”, snow is over mostly done from DC south with sleet line (in yellow) pushing north. Nasty sleet and freezing rain next few hours. Update: https://t.co/m9JIhLowt7pic.twitter.com/sQiYxmCeoC
Earlier: Roads across Arlington are largely snow-covered — or at least slushy, in the case of major routes — despite the work of county and state crews.
Driving conditions are difficult, and likely to get worse as heavier snow is headed north, while sleet and freezing rain is expected to start falling around sunset. Authorities are urging those who don’t need to drive to stay inside.
Arlington Transit buses are currently operating on a severe service schedule. Due to the expected volume of calls, Arlington County police have been told to handle crashes through forms given to drivers rather than a more involved reporting process.
Arlington’s snow response is currently in Phase 2, meaning that crews are focusing only on primary and secondary routes, not neighborhood streets.
As locals eat their lunch, all eyes are on the skies. Snow — likely heavy snow — is about to start falling in Arlington.
County and state crews say they’re ready to tackle what’s expected to be a messy mix of precipitation throughout the day: snow to start, freezing rain as the sun sets, and then plain rain as temperatures warm after nightfall, before perhaps a brief changeover back to soggy snow in the early morning hours.
The snowfall may start with a bit of a bang.
We are watching a heavy snow band progressing northwards as the storm is starting for many of us. Will lead to reduced visibility at times, especially in the DC Metro. pic.twitter.com/bZYe9l8Wxa
— Washingtonian Weather Geeks (@WashingtonianWx) January 16, 2022
In Arlington and across the region, main roads, bridges and highways have been pre-treated with brine ahead of the snowfall. VDOT says it has 3,800 pieces of equipment set to deploy in Northern Virginia during the storm.
“VDOT Northern Virginia crews are mobilizing for snow, freezing rain, and rain that is forecasted to significantly impact the region Sunday and Monday,” the state transportation agency said today. “Crews began the mobilization process Sunday morning. As always, residents are asked to monitor forecasts, plan ahead to avoid nonessential travel during winter weather, and to be aware of the potential for black ice and nightly refreeze as temperatures remain low.”
Arlington County is also encouraging residents to stay at home and off the roads as conditions deteriorate.
The county has about 40 trucks ready for its snow response. Typically, crews focus on primary and secondary routes to start, then start plowing neighborhood streets later.
First shift of County storm response begins at noon with some 40 trucks ready. For safety and effectiveness, plan to stay off roads until hours after the winter weather event has passed. #ArlWXhttps://t.co/DuInmBchJWpic.twitter.com/k7cItKR13N
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) January 16, 2022
This morning, in anticipation of the storm, Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation announced that community centers would be closed today, while the Long Bridge aquatics center would close early.
From DPR:
Arlington Mill, Lubber Run and Thomas Jefferson Community Centers, which were scheduled to open at 1 p.m. today, will remain closed. Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center, which opened at 8 a.m. today, will close at 1 p.m.
You can also stay engaged by enjoying the snow in one of our parks or trails. Want to stay inside? Check out our YouTube stations for options to be active and have fun for people of ages and interests.
Please stay safe.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Arlington and the immediate D.C. area.
From the National Weather Service:
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST MONDAY…
* WHAT…Mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE…Portions of The District of Columbia, central, north central, northeast and northern Maryland and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From 1 PM this afternoon to 1 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Snow in Westover on Jan. 3, 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington — and much of the D.C. region — is now officially under a Winter Storm Watch.
The watch was issued just before 3 p.m. Forecasters are calling for up to 5 inches of accumulating snow, but 1-3 inches is most likely, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty winds will accompany the storm and, paired with the snowfall, could fell tree branches and cause another bout of power outages.
From NWS:
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
251 PM EST Fri Jan 14 2022
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING…
* WHAT…Significant snow and wintry precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are most likely, with up to 5 inches possible. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch are possible. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE…The District of Columbia, portions of central and northern Maryland, and central and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Snow may fall at 1 to 3 inches per hour late Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening, resulting in nearly impassable roads.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Ahead of the storm, which is expected to have more severe impacts west of the D.C. area, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today declared a state of emergency.
“We expect this storm to have a significant impact in many parts of Virginia,” Northam said in a statement. “Declaring a state of emergency now allows our emergency responders to prepare, and to move supplies and equipment where they expect to need them the most. This also gives Governor-elect Youngkin the ability to respond to any storm needs swiftly. I urge Virginians to take this storm seriously and make preparations now.”
Arlington County and VDOT crews, meanwhile, have been pre-treating roads in advance of the winter weather, which is expected to start as snow Saturday afternoon before transitioning to sleet, freezing rain and then plain rain.
We can't rule out power outages Sunday night, especially in our western areas due to 30-40 mph wind gusts + snow/ice on tree limbs. Up to 0.25" ice in some spots. Ice map from @NWS_BaltWashpic.twitter.com/gg9dv8HDg0
The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Watch for all counties along and WEST of I-95, including DC, Fairfax, Arlington, Montgomery and those West. This is for Snow and Ice accumulations. I will have my updated SNOW map at 4,5 & 6 today on News4! pic.twitter.com/oIX4PTKFt1
A snow removal truck on Washington Blvd in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
If you didn’t already know, the brine lines on the roadways have told you by now: Arlington will likely see snow this weekend.
Residents have been regularly checking the forecast for days in anticipation of what is likely to be more winter weather. At this point, the forecast suggests we’ll see a few inches of snow starting Sunday afternoon, before a changeover to sleet, freezing rain and then plain rain.
“This will create very hazardous driving conditions for a time Sunday as roads will be frozen from cold air ahead of the storm,” according to the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang.
Arlington started putting down brine yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and the county’s Department of Environmental Services recommends residents continue to check forecasts, look for updates on its social media and avoid travel during and in the hours after a storm. Residents can check in on road conditions through the county’s traffic cams and snow plow map.
Telltale lines: Arlington crews are brining roadways ahead of the winter weather event expected Sunday night into Monday. Know when pretreatment is an option and why it's best to stay off the roads during, and in the hours after, a storm: https://t.co/DuInmBchJW. #ArlWXpic.twitter.com/xzqmDb3qpJ
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) January 13, 2022
The county will treat roadways and trails as snow begins to fall but won’t start to plow until there are at least 2 inches of snow. Crews will clear snow from all streets and county trails, with primary and secondary routes tackled first and neighborhood streets last.
“We should know more Friday in terms of whether the precipitation turns to rain with above-freezing temperatures into Monday,” DES spokesman Peter Golkin said. “The fact that Monday is a holiday will help with any large storm response because of less traffic. Crews need space and time clearing snow and ice.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation started putting brine down on state roadways after this morning’s commute.
Snow on the Yorktown High School sign announcing winter break (Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann)
Update at 12:45 p.m. — Roughly half or more of Arlington’s neighborhood streets have been cleared, according to the county’s snow removal map. ART bus routes are returning to normal service levels.
From Arlington Transit: "Due to improving road conditions, all ART routes will operate normal weekday service this afternoon and evening."
Earlier: It’s a snow day in Arlington, but getting around is not quite as treacherous as on Monday.
A smaller storm and more time to prepare have contributed to a much different situation on the roads.
About three inches of snow accumulation has been reported in Arlington — officially, 2.6 inches at National Airport — but cold temperatures have kept the snow light and fluffy. That compares to the 6.5-10 inches of snow from Monday’s storm, which started as rain and left a heavy wet layer of snow at the bottom.
Most primary and secondary routes seen on traffic cameras were clear as of 8:30 a.m.
Since 8 a.m., few significant traffic-related issues have been reported on police and fire radios.
Arlington County’s snow response remain in Phase 2 at last check, meaning crews are currently focusing on primary and secondary roads, leaving local roads snow-covered. Traffic cameras show visible pavement on most primary and secondary routes.
Colder temperatures will keep the overnight layer of snow light and manageable but go slow in case underneath there's ice leftover from earlier this week. Crews are making their way through Phase 2 of storm response. #ArlWXhttps://t.co/DuInmBchJWpic.twitter.com/JH1tMXXwsI
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) January 7, 2022
Bus service is running this morning, but on severe weather schedules. Both Arlington Transit and Metro have suspended a number of routes. The ART routes suspended as of publication include 53, 61, 62, 74, 75 and 84.
Metrobus Operating Moderate Snow Plan – January 7: Buses will begin the service day on a moderate snow plan, January 7. Learn more at https://t.co/aunDSDeWZz
Arlington Public Schools are closed today for the fifth day in a row, joining other major local school systems in declaring Friday a snow day, while Arlington County government facilities will open today on a delay, at 10 a.m.
Due to inclement weather, Arlington County Government will open facilities for in-person services at 10:00 am on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Visit the Closings, Delays & Cancellations page for details. https://t.co/0QHU4ZhGT6
Washington-Liberty High School in the snow (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Your kids and your trash will be staying at home until next week.
Arlington Public Schools just announced that it will be closed for the fifth school day in a row, in anticipation of 2-4 inches of snow overnight. Students have not been in class since before the winter break.
More from APS:
Due to the winter weather advisory issued for Arlington, all schools and offices will be closed on Friday, January 7, 2022. Unless otherwise directed by their supervisors, maintenance staff should report to work at their scheduled time, and all custodians should report to work at 6 a.m. Extracurricular activities, games, team practices, field trips, adult education classes, and programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled. For updates about Pool Operations, go to www.apsva.us/aquatics. For information about Arlington County programs and operations go to www.arlingtonva.us.
Schools are not the only local closure of note tomorrow. Arlington County has already cancelled curbside trash and recycling collection.
Friday will be the third collection day this week — in addition to Monday and Tuesday — to be cancelled. Residents whose trash was not collected this week will have to wait until their next scheduled collection date next week.
In other words, prepare to see trash piling up in roughly three-fifths of Arlington’s single-family-home neighborhoods.
The special Christmas tree pickup, meanwhile, has been delayed by a week and is now set to start on Monday. From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services:
Curbside recycling/trash/organics collection is cancelled for Friday, Jan. 7 due to the expected overnight storm.
There will be no make-up collection days for this week.
Weather- and safety-permitting, curbside collections will resume Jan. 10 with regular Monday routes plus special Christmas tree collection. Free paper shredding and inert material drop-off scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Trades Center has been postponed until Saturday, Jan. 15.
After being short-handed for Monday’s winter storm, Arlington snow crews are now working to pre-treat roads and prepare for tonight’s snowfall. About 2-4 inches of accumulation are expected, though the forecast has been trending toward the lower half of that range.
Tonight's snow forecast on track! Snow has spread into WVa after producing ~4" in Nashville (most since 2016!). Should arrive in DC area between 11p-1a. We're still expecting ~2." Latest NAM model run syncs up well with our forecast issued earlier. Update: https://t.co/c0R0LyY3uXpic.twitter.com/iARpUpNjD7
Arlington and much of the D.C. area is under a Winter Weather Advisory starting at 9 p.m. From the National Weather Service:
328 PM EST Thu Jan 6 2022
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.
* WHERE…The Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan areas, portions of central and southern Maryland, and portions northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From 9 PM this evening to 7 AM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The heaviest snow is expected overnight when snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour are possible. Visibility will be reduced to near or less than one-half mile.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
The National Weather Service just issued a Winter Weather Advisory, saying 2-4 inches of accumulation is likely between Thursday night and Friday morning.
The snowfall could bring more travel disruptions and closures. It follows three days of school closures in Arlington after a winter storm dropped 6-10 inches of snow on Monday.
From NWS:
233 PM EST Wed Jan 5 2022
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO 5 AM EST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…Snow. Total snow accumulations 2 to 4 inches. Isolated high amounts of around 5 inches are possible.
* WHERE…The District of Columbia, portions of northern and central Maryland, and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From 9 PM Thursday to 5 AM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The heaviest snow is expected between 10 PM and 2 AM when snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour are possible.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Here we go again! Another SNOW event moving into our region Tomorrow night into Friday Morning. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire area. I am expecting 2-3" for most of us, maybe a little more, but this is NOT a huge storm, still impactful. See you at 4,5&6! pic.twitter.com/d34A7NSq78
Snowy Clarendon on Monday (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
For the third day in a row, Arlington Public Schools students — and those that follow APS closures, like local preschools — will get another snow day.
The school system announced the closure shortly after 5 p.m., with the possibility of freezing rain in the forecast and with many neighborhood streets still covered in snow and ice.
From APS:
Due to current neighborhood road and sidewalk conditions, all schools and offices will be closed on Wed, January 5, 2022. APS is working with Arlington County to clear all roads as quickly as possible, and while most primary and secondary roads are clear, many neighborhood roads have not been plowed and are not passable by buses. Many sidewalks are still not safe for pedestrians. Crews are working extended shifts, with limited staffing available, to clear all roadways as quickly as possible.
Unless otherwise directed by their supervisors, custodial and maintenance staff should report to work at their scheduled time, and all custodians should report to work at 6 a.m. Extracurricular activities, games, team practices, field trips, adult education classes, and programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled. For updates about Pool Operations, go to www.apsva.us/aquatics. For information about Arlington County programs and operations go to www.arlingtonva.us.
Arlington County’s snow plow map shows that only a portion of local roads have been cleared as of Tuesday evening. Many haven’t seen a single plow since the start of Monday’s winter storm. (The county prioritizes primary and secondary roads as part of its snow removal plan.)
“Hours of sun and temps above freezing today helped crews with the storm cleanup but work will continue on refreezing roads into the morning,” Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services tweeted tonight. “Avoid unnecessary travel, giving plows the needed space and time.”
Previously, the county said its plow crews were experiencing staffing shortages due to Covid cases.
Arlington snow plow map as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Uncleared streets are in red. (via Arlington County)
A crew shovels snow in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
If you have a sidewalk on your property, you now have less than 12 hours to clear away the snow and ice from it.
Arlington’s snow removal ordinance, approved in 2010, gives owners 36 hours to shovel public sidewalks adjacent to their property after a storm with more than six inches of snow accumulation.
According to the county website, that means the deadline is 2 a.m. tonight.
“A recent weather event has concluded and deposited snow/ice accumulations of more than 6 inches,” the county says. “Arlington’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires residents and businesses to clear adjacent public sidewalks of snow and ice by 2:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.”
Those cleared sidewalks — and roads — could be icy by tomorrow morning, however. A period of light freezing rain is possible overnight, forecasters say.
From the National Weather Service:
244 PM EST Tue Jan 4 2022
…POTENTIAL WINTER COMMUTING HAZARD FOR THE BALTIMORE / WASHINGTON METRO AREAS WEDNESDAY MORNING…
There is a potential for hazardous commuting conditions for the Wednesday morning commute. A period of light freezing rain is POSSIBLE (a 30 to 50 percent chance) Wednesday morning across the Baltimore / Washington metro areas with a light glaze of ice possible on area roads.
If this threat does materialize during the Wednesday morning rush-hour, many roads could quickly turn icy. This could lead to dangerous traveling conditions, multiple accidents, and extensive delays.
If commuting Wednesday morning, be aware of the POSSIBILITY of significant travel disruptions. Plan ahead by allowing for extra travel time, and consider using public transportation and telework options.
Stay tuned for updates on this potential winter weather episode.
The freezing rain threat is greatest east of I-95, however, and Arlington was not included in a just-issued Winter Weather Advisory.
Could be another very messy morning. It would be a good idea not to leave your house until after about 8 or 9am, especially in the advisory areas! https://t.co/P7oTb7pcFx
Drivers struggling to get up the hill along westbound Route 50 near Courthouse, one of numerous trouble spots across the county during the snowstorm (staff photo)
Route 50 at Columbus Street, looking east: closed from Edison to Park for a jackknifed truck and many stuck vehicles (photo courtesy Michael Thomas)
(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) The snowflakes are tapering off across Arlington, but police, firefighters and plow crews are still hard at work.
The heavy, wet snow has made vehicle travel treacherous and nearly impossible in certain hilly parts of the county. Even frequently-plowed highways and main routes like I-395, Route 50 and Columbia Pike were impassable at points during the storm.
Police are considering closing a portion of Route 50, per scanner. Traffic is barely moving westbound between N. Park Drive and N. Edison Street. pic.twitter.com/UMp94FS0rZ
Power outages have continued to increase, exceeding 4,500 in Arlington as of 2 p.m. amid numerous reports of falling trees and branches.
Transit issues extend beyond Arlington Transit and Metrobus service being suspended. Blue Line service as suspended between the Pentagon and Rosslyn shortly before 1 p.m. due to a fallen tree on the tracks.
Blue Line train service is temporarily suspended between Pentagon and Rosslyn, due to a fallen tree over the tracks at Arlington Cemetery. https://t.co/EdXkaZtFwl#wmata
As of 12:30 p.m., Reagan National Airport was under a ground stop, with arrivals and departures mostly paused and numerous flights cancelled.
12:30pm update: The airport is currently under an @FAANews issued ground stop, which is impacting flights. All passengers should check directly with their airline on the status of their flight prior to coming to the airport today. pic.twitter.com/ui1v16gXm6
In addition to schools and Arlington County government offices and facilities, many businesses around Arlington have closed for the day. Among the restaurants not serving tonight are Pupatella Pizza’s two Arlington locations.
The winter storm has exceeded accumulation predictions across the region and the state — and caused gridlock and dozens of crashes on the roads.
“Since 12:01 a.m. Monday (Jan. 3), Virginia State Police emergency communications centers across the state have fielded over 2,000 total calls for service,” VSP said this afternoon. “Of those 2,000 calls, 72 are ongoing traffic crashes and 69 disabled vehicles that VSP troopers are still on scene with or responding to as of 3:30 p.m.
VSP’s Fairfax Division, which serves the inner Northern Virginia suburbs, reported 143 disabled vehicles and 68 crashes as of 3:30 p.m.
“State police is still asking people to avoid driving, unless absolutely unnecessary,” the agency said. “The drive is not worth the risk of a crash, getting stuck, injury to your/passenger, or the cost of a repair.”
With the snow tapering off, reports suggest 6-9 inches of accumulation in parts of Arlington.
This storm has been a BOOM for quite a few folks– amounts of 5-10" pretty widespread in immediate DC area. Here are some snow total reports. Updates: https://t.co/FsSR0UhUDlpic.twitter.com/xPuRGE43zk
This storm is a beast. Reagan National Airport w/ near blizzard conditions past couple of hours with heavy snow, 1/8-1/2 mile visibility, 30-40 mph gusts. Reports of downed trees/outages mounting, esp in north central Va. Update: https://t.co/FsSR0UhUDlpic.twitter.com/nCPDbLujey
As of noon, Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services says it is in “Phase 2” of its snow response, treating primary and secondary roads while neighborhood streets remain mostly snow-covered.
VDOT, meanwhile, says it is preparing for a possible refreeze overnight, which could lead to extremely hazardous driving conditions Tuesday morning.
“VDOT Northern Virginia crews will remain on duty this afternoon and overnight to push accumulation, as well as to treat roads overnight for the refreeze of any melted precipitation to the pavement,” the state transportation department said in a mid-afternoon update. “Overnight tonight and tomorrow morning, limit nonessential trips if possible, and remain keenly alert to icy spots if traveling.”
This afternoon, Arlington Public Schools joined Fairfax County and other major D.C. area school systems in announcing that there would be no school on Tuesday.
