weather closure

Summary of Today’s Closures

By ARLnow.com

Here’s a summary of some of today’s closures:

  • County government, schools libraries and courts are closed
  • Pentagon City mall is closed (Ballston Common Mall is open)
  • The Arlington YMCA is closed
  • No flights are leaving from or arriving at Reagan National Airport
  • The Clarendon Whole Foods has closed (other grocery stores we talked to are still open)
  • Arlington Free Clinic is closed
  • Marymount University closed
  • The Art Institute of Washington, Arlington campus, is closed
  • Metrorail aboveground service, Metrobus service, and ART service is suspended

Weekend Rosslyn Metro Closure, Emergency Drill Postponed

By ARLnow.com

In a stark reversal of a recent trend, the snow has caused something that was supposed to be closed to instead remain open.

The Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery Metro stations were supposed to be closed all weekend due to track work and an emergency exercise. Instead, the exercise and the maintenance have been postponed indefinitely, and both stations will be open throughout President’s Day Weekend.

The emergency exercise was to involve 150 Arlington police officers and firefighters. It would have simulated a terrorist bombing of a Metrorail train in the tunnel between the Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom Metro stations.

“Priority number one this week is to dig out from this record snowfall and resume operations on Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Acting Deputy General Manager of Operations, in a press release. “With additional snow in the forecast… we must focus all of our efforts on safe operations and continuing to help get people where they need to go.”

Arlington Schools Closed Again Wednesday

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County schools are closed again on Wednesday. “Extracurricular activities, interscholastic contests, team practices, field trips, adult and community education classes, and recreation programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled,” according to the Arlington Public Schools web site. Pools and school offices will also be closed. Here’s part of an email sent to parents by superintendent Patrick K. Murphy:

Dear Parents:

By now, I am sure that every parent in Arlington is wishing this winter weather cycle would end so we could just get our kids back in the classroom learning. All of us at APS join you in those thoughts – teaching children is much more rewarding than shoveling snow!

Despite all of those wishes and the amazingly dedicated work of our APS and County crews, the weather continues to impede our efforts. Although we have announced that we will be closed tomorrow, for now no decisions have been made about the remainder of the week. Until we see the actual impact of the approaching storm, we can’t make a decision about school operations for Thursday and Friday, but we need to be prepared for the possibility of an extended disruption of school.

Arlington Schools, Government Closed Tuesday

By ARLnow.com

Update at 8:05 PM – Arlington County government is closed tomorrow.

Update at 7:30 PM – The federal government is also closed tomorrow.

Arlington County schools are closed tomorrow. The school system sent this letter to parents, saying road conditions make it too dangerous for children to get to school.

ART Service Suspended, Other Notable Closures

By ARLnow.com

ART bus service has been suspended for the day due to weather. Above-ground Metrorail and bus service also remains suspended.

The Crystal Couture show has been canceled for tonight. Classes have been canceled at Northern Virginia Community College. Pentagon City mall is closed and will reopen Sunday at 11:00 AM.

Also, the U.S. Postal Service has suspended mail delivery today.

Grocery Stores Closing

By ARLnow.com

Update at 8:10 PM – The Pentagon City Harris Teeter is closing within the hour. The Ballston store is planning to close at midnight. Both stores say it is unlikely they’ll open tomorrow.

Local Giant stores are, apparently, toughing out the storm. The South Glebe Road and the Virginia Square stores are both planning on closing at midnight and re-opening at 6:00 AM.

The Clarendon Whole Foods is closing at 5:00 PM today due to the snow. The store will remain closed until Sunday.

The Ballston Harris Teeter will be closing at some point tonight, depending on conditions, according to a store employee. Other stores, reached by phone, said no decision has been made regarding whether they’ll close today.

UPDATED: County Government Shut Down, More Closures

By ARLnow.com

Update at 4:30 PM – From Arlington Alert: “Arlington County Libraries, Schools, and Park activities are cancelled & facilities closed through Sunday”

Update at 1:15 PM – Fairfax County government is shutting down at 2:00 PM. Crystal Couture is canceled tonight. One place that’s opening for business instead of closing: Bakeshop is opening its doors at 2.

Arlington County government offices, as well as libraries and recreation facilities, are shutting down at noon today.

Also, the steady stream of weekend cancellations continues. Arlington National Cemetery has announced that it will be closed Saturday and Sunday due to the weather.

Arlington Schools Closed Friday, Government Open

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Public Schools will be closed Friday. The Arlington County government will be open, with a liberal leave policy for staff.

The Montessori School of Northern Virginia in Falls Church will also be closed tomorrow. And the Diocese of Arlington’s Catholic Charities Ball has been postponed.

Transportation Safety This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

WMATA has announced that aboveground Metrorail service will shut down when snow accumulation reaches eight inches, as it did on Dec. 19. Don’t try to use Metrorail when the accumulation totals are nearing 8″ — there’s a real likelihood of the system shutting down as you’re in transit, stranding you halfway to your destination.

Some hardy souls may try to drive this weekend, despite pleas from local governments for drivers to stay off the road. If you absolutely, positively must drive, you’re likely to encounter a few salt trucks along the way. For many drivers, the exact rules of engagement around slow-moving salt trucks is unclear. Do you pass? How close to you get? To help shed some light, here are some salt truck safety tips, as emailed to arlnow.com from the county’s Department of Environmental Services:

Snow Operations Tips: Roadway Safety

  • If you are behind a snow plow, stay at least 100 feet back to allow the truck adequate room to maneuver and see you in the rearview and side mirrors.
  • Do not attempt to pass snow plows working in tandem on major roadways. Working together in a staggered pattern allows the plows to quickly clear more of the roadway.
  • A snowplow needs a minimum roadway width of 15 feet to maneuver safely, and on many streets a snowplow cannot operate when cars are parked on both sides of the street.
  • If you see a plow on a narrow, two-way road, consider an alternate route or wait for the plow to pass to ensure that both vehicles can safely navigate the road.
  • Prior to a storm, work with neighbors to move as many cars off the street and into garages or driveways. Park all remaining vehicles on one side of the street – the ODD numbered side, if possible. With fewer parked cars, streets can be cleared more completely, safely and quickly. Your car is also less likely to be covered with salt and sand.
  • Use extra caution when driving during, and shortly after, winter weather events. Roads can remain slippery for some time after trucks have plowed and treated them, especially when the temperatures remain low.