Arlington and other parts of the D.C. area could get another 1-2 inches of snow overnight.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory, warning of slick roads during the morning commute.
… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EST TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EST TUESDAY.
* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW. SNOW MAY END AS A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.
* ACCUMULATIONS… 1 TO 2 INCHES. LITTLE OR NO ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN.
* TIMING… LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH OVERNIGHT.
* TEMPERATURES… MIDDLE TO UPPER 20S.
* WINDS… SOUTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH.
* IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY… AND WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING ANY UNTREATED ROADS WILL REMAIN SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY THROUGH THE MORNING RUSH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW… SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES… AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Arlington County and the federal government are both opening on a two hour delay today (Friday).
Arlington Public Schools are closed. All preschool programs, Enjoy Arlington classes and sports leagues are canceled. Synthetic fields are closed.
Garbage collection will take place, and those whose garbage day is Thursday are also asked to put their carts out for collection.
An overnight refreeze may result in slippery conditions on the roads and sidewalks this morning. Pedestrians and drivers are encouraged to exercise extra caution.
Arlington Transit has modified its morning service schedule in light of the slick streets. From an ART alert email:
ART will operate at Severe Service Levels on the 41 & 51 and also the 42, 45, 77, & 87.
ART 41 & ART 45 will not serve Columbia Heights West. Buses will run only to/from Columbia Pike & Dinwiddie.
ART 42, 45 & 77 will not serve S. Courthouse Road
ART 77 will not serve Walter Reed between Arlington Mill & S. Glebe (the hill)
ART 87 buses will run AM Peak, but expect delays. ART 87A and 87X will not be served
As the ice melts mid-day, more service will be provided. We will post more alerts.
The second act of today’s snowstorm has arrived, with a couple more inches of snow expected to accumulate.
The snow returned just as Arlington road crews were starting to tackle still snow-covered neighborhood streets. It could force the snow plows to continue focusing on primary and secondary arteries while the residential roads remain barely, if at all passable.
“Crews have moved into residential streets with a focus on school related routes,” Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services tweeted late this afternoon (Thursday). “Additional snow late could affect progress on residential/neighborhood streets.”
From DES, later: “Big, heavy snow flakes falling again. Although many main roads are clear, please don’t drive so plows can continue to do job.”
DES said that it could take up to 36-48 hours to clear roads after a 10-inch snowfall, which Arlington is on the verge of reaching, depending where in the county you were measuring.
The snow caused other, unexpected problems on the roads in some parts of Arlington.
On Lee Highway, near Rosslyn, a nearly half-mile-long portion of the fence that runs along I-66 collapsed onto one of the still snow-covered travel lanes, according to police radio traffic.
In Courthouse, a gigantic mound of plowed snow was piled up in the median, blocking a crosswalk adjacent to the Metro station. That is creating a hazard for pedestrians and drivers alike.
VDOT said tonight, before the snow started falling again, that it was making progress clearing roads in Northern Virginia.
“Interstates are mostly clear and wet,” VDOT said. “Primary roads are partially clear with some lanes open and many secondary roads remain snow-covered.”
VDOT warned that a refreeze may make driving even more treacherous overnight.
“Roads that appear to be bare pavement may become slick from sleet and refreeze,” the agency warned.
Other transportation options were slowly returning Thursday night.
Reagan National Airport’s main runway was back open as of 5:05 p.m., allowing some flights in and out. Still, many flights were canceled as a result of the 7 inches of wet snow that fell, making it difficult for crew to clear runways and taxiways.
“There have been significant flight cancellations throughout the day,” the airport authority said on its website. “Check with your airline for flight information and do not drive to the airport before confirming the status of your flight.”
Metrorail continued to operate on a near-normal schedule. Metrobuses are now running on major arteries again.
ART bus service, however, is still suspended. Arlington Transit said it will wait until 10:00 tonight to post an update on planned ART and STAR service tomorrow.
The National Weather Service, meanwhile, says that the D.C. area could receive another 2-4 inches of snow tonight before the winter storm system finally moves out.
… HEAVY SNOW TO IMPACT AREAS EAST OF BLUE RIDGE INCLUDING THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREAS OF WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE THROUGH MIDNIGHT…
AREAS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH MIDNIGHT… WHERE 2 TO 4 INCHES OF NEW SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. AT 600 PM… MOST LOCATIONS HAVE TRANSITIONED TO ALL SNOW AFTER THE SLEET AND RAIN FROM EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON.
THE AREAS OF HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 95… AND ALSO IN HOWARD AND CARROLL COUNTIES IN MARYLAND.
THIS ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS AS ROADS WILL ONCE AGAIN BECOME SNOW COVERED. VISIBILITIES WILL BE LOWERING TO BELOW 1/4 MILE AT TIMES… SO TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
(Updated at 9:45 a.m.) The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the D.C. region.
The warning, issued last night, revises down the snow forecast for Arlington to 4-8 inches.
… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST THURSDAY…
* PRECIPITATION TYPE… HEAVY SNOW AND SLEET.
* ACCUMULATIONS… 4 TO 8 INCHES.
* TIMING… SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA FROM THE SOUTH BETWEEN 8 PM AND 10 PM THIS EVENING. SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. SNOW IS EXPECTED MIX WITH SLEET AND RAIN LATE THURSDAY MORNING INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
* TEMPERATURES… IN THE MID 20S TONIGHT… SLOWLY RISING INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
* WINDS… NORTHEAST 5 TO 15 MPH THIS EVENING… BECOMING NORTH AND INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.
* IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW AND SLEET COVERED AND SLIPPERY. TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. HEAVY WET SNOW COUPLED WITH GUSTY WINDS COULD LEAD TO SOME POWER OUTAGES.
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.
Sunday morning, outside of a small Pennsylvania town about 4 hours northwest of Arlington, the famed weather-predicting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil made a not-so-bold prediction.
While not a huge snow producer, this winter has without a doubt been one of our coldest in recent memory. With that in mind, how do you feel about the groundhog’s forecast?
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the D.C. region tonight as forecasters are calling for an inch of snow with below-freezing temperatures.
The NWS expects accumulation of about an inch of snow with an 80 percent chance of precipitation, starting in the early evening but “mainly after 9:00 p.m.” Combined with a predicted low temperature around 12 degrees, the NWS predicts potentially hazardous road conditions.
From NWS:
…ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE-
300 PM EST TUE JAN 28 2014
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY…TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER…AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
.DAY ONE…THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
LOW PRESSURE WILL PASS SOUTH OF THE REGION TONIGHT. A PERIOD OF ACCUMULATING SNOW IS LIKELY ACROSS MUCH OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS APPEAR THAT THEY WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHERN MARYLAND INTO THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT AND FOR OTHER LOCATIONS EAST OF INTERSTATE 95. UNCERTAINTY REMAINS HIGH REGARDING THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS STORM AND HOW FAR NORTHWEST ACCUMULATING SNOW MAY REACH. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS…
“We called in a team today to hook up our trucks with chains, spreaders and plows,” said Shannon Whalen McDaniel, spokeswoman for Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services. “We will also brine the roads throughout the night in preparation.”
VDOT, meanwhile, said “crews are pre-treating roads aggressively throughout Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties today.”
“Crews will be out in force overnight and through the duration of the storm, treating icy roads and plowing snow,” VDOT said in a press release. “While VDOT is in full preparation mode, motorists are urged to make sure their vehicles are in proper driving condition for winter weather and have emergency kits. During the storm, motorists should avoid driving on the roads.”
WMATA says it will start the Tuesday on a normal weekday Metrorail and bus schedule, but may reduce rail service and suspend bus service later in the day as conditions deteriorate. MetroAccess service has been suspended for all of Tuesday.
“For your safety, travel only if necessary,” Metro said in an advisory. “If you must travel, plan to arrive at your destination before the worst of the storm, and be prepared to remain there until the storm passes. Check wmata.com before starting your trip or sign up for MetroAlerts to receive updated service information by email or text message.”
(Updated at 10:40 p.m.) The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for Arlington the rest of the D.C. area this afternoon.
As of Monday night, forecasters are saying that 4-8 inches of snow is likely on Tuesday, with the heaviest snow falling around the evening rush hour.
Arlington Public Schools will be closed tomorrow due to a scheduled teacher work day. Alexandria and Fairfax County schools, among other local school systems, have announced that they will be closed Tuesday due to the snow.
From NWS:
… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM EST TUESDAY…
* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS… 4 TO 8 INCHES… WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.
* TIMING… SNOW WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN 7 AM AND 10 AM TUESDAY MORNING. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED DURING THE MIDDAY AND AFTERNOON HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TUESDAY EVENING.
* TEMPERATURES… IN THE 20S WHEN SNOW BEGINS TUESDAY MORNING… THEN FALLING INTO THE TEENS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TUESDAY AFTERNOON… FALLING TO AROUND 10 BELOW ZERO TUESDAY EVENING.
* WINDS… NORTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH… INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 MPH TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO BELOW ONE-HALF MILE AT TIMES. TRAVELING WILL BECOME DANGEROUS TUESDAY. THE MORNING COMMUTE MAY BE IMPACTED BY THE SNOW… AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IS EXPECTED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING COMMUTE.
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 National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for Arlington and the D.C. region Friday.
Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are expected to combine with temperatures between 14 and 21 degrees for a bitterly cold Friday. Meanwhile, snow is currently moving in to the area, as forecasters are calling for about an inch of accumulation in Arlington through Friday morning.
The wind advisory from NWS is below.
…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO NOON EST FRIDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO NOON EST FRIDAY.
* TIMING…LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
* WINDS…NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 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 45 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED. SECURE OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND TAKE CARE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.
AAA Mid-Atlantic is warning drivers to prepare for the extreme cold.
“Extreme temperature shifts are hard on your vehicle, so don’t get caught off guard by the coming winter weather,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Lon Anderson. “Drivers should make sure their vehicles are prepared with proper levels of antifreeze, a strong battery, and plenty of windshield washer fluid. Also keep an emergency kit in the trunk should you run into any problems during your commute.”
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Arlington and the D.C. region.
Up to 6 inches of snow are forecast for the area. From NWS:
… WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 2 PM EST TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 2 PM EST TUESDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW… HEAVY AT TIMES. PRECIPITATION MAY START AS A PERIOD OF SNOW AND SLEET BEFORE DAWN CHANGING TO ALL SNOW AFTER DAYBREAK.
* ACCUMULATIONS… 3 TO 6 INCHES.
* TIMING… AROUND DAYBREAK TUESDAY LASTING THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON… INCLUDING THE TUESDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR.
* TEMPERATURES… UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S.
* WINDS… NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH.
* IMPACTS… HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FROM HEAVY SNOW. THE SNOW WILL IMPACT THE MORNING RUSH TUESDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATION RATES OF 1-2 INCHES PER HOUR.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS.
As Arlington cleans up downed tree branches and power lines from last night’s freezing rain, the region is bracing for another winter storm.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch, saying that 5 or more inches of snow is possible Tuesday. Other forecasters say the snow total is likely to be lower — perhaps 2-3 inches.
From the National Weather Service:
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
* PRECIPITATION TYPE…POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOW. THE PRECIPITATION MAY START AS A PERIOD OF SLEET…ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 66 IN VIRGINIA…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA…AND U.S. ROUTE 50 IN MARYLAND.
* ACCUMULATIONS…POTENTIAL FOR FIVE INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW.
* TIMING…NEAR DAWN TUESDAY THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON…INCLUDING THE TUESDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR.
* TEMPERATURES…UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S.
* WINDS…NORTH 5 TO 10 MPH.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE PROBABLE DUE TO ACCUMULATING SNOW…WHICH WILL CAUSE ADVERSE TRAVELING CONDITIONS. THE SNOW WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE MORNING RUSH TUESDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATION RATES OF 1-2 INCHES PER HOUR FOR A TWO-TO-FOUR HOUR PERIOD FROM DAYBREAK TO MID-TO-LATE MORNING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
