Weather

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Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning through 8:30 p.m.

From the National Weather Service:

AT 742 PM EDT… DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR FAIRFAX TO NEAR TRIANGLE… AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… COLLEGE PARK… VIENNA… FALLS CHURCH… BLADENSBURG… FORESTVILLE IN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY… PIMMIT HILLS… MANTUA… THE I395 AND I495… GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY… NATIONALS PARK… CLINTON… CORAL HILLS… WOODBRIDGE… THE I66 AND I495… LANGLEY PARK… ANNANDALE… DALE CITY… CRYSTAL CITY AND HUNTINGTON IN FAIRFAX COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS… DESTRUCTIVE HAIL… DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION… MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

Tornado Watch Issued for Arlington, Region

By ARLnow.com

Storm clouds over Rosslyn 7/3/14A Tornado Watch has been issued for Arlington and the D.C. region through 10:00 tonight.

Forecasters say severe storms are likely late this afternoon and this evening and that an isolated tornado is possible.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to reach the around the evening rush hour.

From the National Weather Service:

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH A THREAT OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS…LARGE HAIL AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO.

Flood Watch Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County and much of the surrounding region is under a Flood Watch tonight through Monday morning.

Forecasters say rain will start falling this evening and continue throughout the night, raising the possibility of flooding in flood-prone areas.

From the National Weather Service:

* FROM 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING

* MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION THIS EVENING THROUGH TONIGHT… RAINFALL TOTALS AROUND ONE AND A HALF INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE GREATER BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON METRO AREA. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE… ESPECIALLY ALONG AND IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE/CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN.

* EXPECT SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE… POSSIBLY OVERFLOWING THEIR BANKS. IN ADDITION… FLOODING MAY OCCUR IN LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.

PLEASE MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

Arlington Now Under Wind Advisory

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County and the D.C. region is under a wind advisory Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service says wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible tonight. From NWS:

… WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY… WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* TIMING… THIS EVENING.
* WINDS… BECOMING NORTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 MPH.
* IMPACTS… SCATTERED TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE. DIFFICULTY DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED. SECURE OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND TAKE CARE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

County Government, Courts Opening Delayed

By ARLnow.com

Snow clearing operations in Pentagon City(Updated at 10:45 a.m.) Schools are closed today, and Arlington County government offices and courts will be opening at 11:00 a.m.

Other county facilities also have delayed openings. Libraries, except for the Plaza library, are hoping open at 1:00 p.m., according to Arlington’s closing and delays page.

The Arlington Mill Community Center will open at 1:00 p.m., while other community centers will open at noon or later, as scheduled, according to the county.

After earlier saying that trash and recycling collection would happen today and Saturday, the county now says it has been cancelled.

Due to hazardous road conditions, all solid waste services have been canceled: brush, cart repair, collection, special collections, etc. We will resume collections on Monday, March 9. Thursday and Friday customers will be serviced on their next collection day. Carts should be removed from the right-of-way. The Customer Call Center will open at 11 a.m.

The federal government, meanwhile, is opening on a two hour delay.

Pike Residents Organize Snowball Fight as Snowfall Continues

By Ethan Rothstein

Battle at Ballston snowball fight(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) As Arlington weathers yet another March snowfall, residents are organizing another March snowball fight.

Today, at 4:30 p.m., at Penrose Square — the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street — neighbors are being invited to participate in a snowball fight in what could be five or more inches of snow.

Pike resident Chris Slatt put out the call for the fight at just about noon on Twitter as a spur-of-the-moment idea. Over the phone, he told ARLnow.com that it seemed like a good opportunity for the shenanigans, considering schools, the government and many private offices are closed.

“My kids wanted to have a snowball fight, and it’s no fun with just three people,” he said.

Whereas last year’s snowball fight in Virginia Square was set up dodgeball-style and more than 100 people showed up, Slatt has no plans for anything remotely that organized. He said in the seven years he’s lived on the Pike, he’s never heard of another community-organized snowball fight.

“I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “It could be 10 people, it could be 100. No rules, just be neighborly and have fun.”

One thing attendees might expect: the rare opportunity to legally throw an object at a legislator.

Far from the frivolity, roads are getting increasingly dangerous. Route 110 at N. Marshall drive had to be briefly closed to clear an accident, and Glebe Road was closed in multiple locations for accidents, including a jackknifed ART bus.

According to scanner reports, S. Walter Reed Drive at Quincy Street was blocked at about 3:10 p.m. for a single-vehicle accident and multiple vehicles are stuck on the hill at Wilson Blvd and N. Lexington Street. Another ART bus was involved in a wreck at Washington Blvd and 3rd Street N., per the scanner.

Primary roads are being plowed as Arlington remains in Phase 2 of snow-clearing efforts, according to the county website. Residential streets will likely have to wait a while longer before plows begin to arrive.

The snow is expected to continue to fall into the evening, and Arlington will remain under a winter storm warning until 9:00 p.m.

Update at 5:00 p.m. — The snowball fight actually happened.

File photo (top)

Roads Snow-Covered in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police car driving in the snow on 3/5/15

Most roads in Arlington are snow-covered as of noon today, as flakes continue to fall.

So far, 2-3 inches of snow accumulation have been reported.

The snow may have been responsible for one rollover accident this morning, near the intersection of 16th Street and S. Taylor Street. No injuries were reported but the road was closed for a period of time this morning. Other crashed have been reported in various parts of the county.

Residents are being strongly urged to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Most seem to be heeding the advice, as traffic is light even on busy roads in Ballston.

Many flights in an out of Reagan National Airport have been cancelled. Those with air travel plans are being asked to monitor their flight status.

In addition to schools and governments, the snow is prompting numerous event cancellations.

County, Federal Government Closed as Sleet Starts Falling

By ARLnow.com

The federal government is closed, and Arlington schools, government offices, courts and facilities are closed today due to expected snow.

Sleet is falling in parts of Arlington as of 7:30, as temperatures continue to fall. Conditions are expected to deteriorate later this morning.

Due to the expected snow, ART buses are operating on a modified schedule.

“Due to expected weather conditions (today) Thursday, March 5 – ART is running a Saturday service level on routes 41, 42, 45, 51, 77 & 87,” ART said in an email. “We will continue to provide updates as things change. Please be safe, and have a wonderful day.”

Solid waste collection, meanwhile, has been suspended for the day.

All trash and recycling services are postposed today, Thursday, Mar. 5, due to inclement winter weather. Collection services will resume when County offices reopen and will continue until all trash and recycling is collected.

Until services resume, remove carts from the right-of-way to allow snow removal crews to clear the roads. The Customer Call Center is closed and will reopen when County offices open.

Arlington County’s website says its snow crews are in a “Phase 2” alert, meaning crews are ready to clear accumulation from main roads.

Arlington Public Schools Closed Thursday

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Public Schools logoArlington Public Schools will be closed Thursday due to snow, the school system announced tonight.

From APS’ “School Talk” email:

“All APS schools and offices will be closed on Thu, Mar. 5. Extracurricular activities, interscholastic 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.”

Parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Thursday will be rescheduled.

Snowfall Prediction May Mean Imminent Chaos at Grocery Stores

By Ethan Rothstein

Shoppers at Whole Foods before a predicted snowstorm March 4, 2015With forecasters calling for up to 8 inches of snow on Thursday, Arlington residents are hunkering down for yet another snow day.

Part of the ritual preparation for many includes heading to the grocery store to stock up on food and supplies, in particular milk, eggs, bottled water and bread.

“It’s going to be a freaking zoo in here,” an employee of Clarendon’s Trader Joe’s said, declining to give her name because company policy doesn’t allow staff members to speak to the media.

This afternoon, shelves were fully stocked at many of the grocery stores in the area, but that won’t be the case for long. Katie Butris was shopping at Trader Joe’s and used to work there. She said “crazy lines” are the norm before a storm.

“You can’t keep the shelves stocked,” she said. “Everyone gets here at once. And then the delivery trucks can’t get here so we were out of [many items] for days.”

Carolyn Marsh was shopping before taking off for a ski trip — benefiting from the snow many of her neighbors are dreading it — and said she was glad she could get the trip out of the way before everyone else was out of work.

“It’s awful,”she said. “The places look like they’ve been ravaged.”

A native of New York, Marsh said she never worries about loading up on milk and bread. She lives in Westover and can walk to get her food if need be.

“Washington sort of feeds on itself in these situations,” she said. “People see the big news stories and figure they should load up when everyone’s out and about a day later anyway.”

(Shortly thereafter, an ARLnow.com reporter was told by Trader Joe’s management to leave the store.)

Arlington and the D.C. area is under a Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight until 9:00 p.m. Thursday, with the heaviest snow predicted from late morning to early afternoon.

‘All Hands on Deck’ for VDOT Snow Crews Thursday

By ARLnow.com

Snow 3/3/14 (file photo)Arlington residents and area snow crews are gearing up for what may be the year’s final — and most potent — winter storm.

Up to 8 inches of snow are expected to fall Thursday, as cold air moves in and rain turns to sleet and snowflakes.

Arlington road crews — about 50 trucks total — are expected to start a “full team effort” to plow and treat roads at midnight, according to a Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman.

VDOT, meanwhile, said it has “all hands on deck” for Thursday’s storm. It has a website for residents to monitor snow-clearing progress: vdotplows.org.

VDOT issued the following press release Wednesday afternoon, urging drivers to stay off the roads Thursday.

Road crews in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties are preparing for another winter storm to include rain, sleet, and snow, followed by several days of frigid temperatures that will make clearing roads a challenge. By midnight, more than 3,800 trucks will be staged along interstates, major roads and neighborhood streets.

“We’re asking drivers to prepare now for a long couple of days,” said Branco Vlacich, VDOT’s district maintenance engineer for northern Virginia. “It will be vital to stay off the roads tomorrow, as conditions will be treacherous during the storm. Crews will also need that room to clear snow quickly during the day, because frigid temperatures overnight and through the weekend will mean repeated refreeze of any accumulation left on the road.”

With the storm expected to begin as rain, crews will not pre-treat for this storm. They will treat roads with salt and sand during sleet and freezing rain, and begin to plow as the storm transitions to accumulating snow.

What motorists and residents should know:

  • Road conditions will be treacherous during the storm. Drivers should stay off roads throughout the day tomorrow to provide crews as much room as possible to plow and treat roads.
  • Crews will plow and treat interstates, major roads and neighborhoods in northern Virginia concurrently.
  • Residents are asked to park in driveways or on the odd-numbered side of the street to allow plows room to pass.
  • 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.
  • Repeated refreeze and black ice are likely through the weekend, with single-digit lows overnight and below-freezing pavement temperatures forecasted to persist for the next several days.

Arlington middle schools and most elementary schools are already slated to be closed to students Thursday and Friday for parent-teacher conferences. Arlington Public Schools has yet to make a final call on closing schools entirely on Thursday.

Milder weather is expected this weekend and early next week — but those hoping that spring will be here to stay would be well-advised to remember last year — when a winter storm on March 3, 2014 dropped about 4 inches of snow on the area, lower than most forecasts at the time. That storm was followed by warmer weather then, two weeks later, a St. Patrick’s Day storm that resulted in 7-8 inches of accumulation.

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