There is no longer a Winter Weather advisory in effect, however continue to proceed with caution.
- Crews continue to treat roads for icy spots. Treat anything that looks wet as if it could be ice, especially bridges and overpasses. If there is snow or ice on roadways, travel is hazardous.
- Continue to avoid or delay trips if possible to give trucks room to work and treat icy areas. Temperatures will remain around freezing most of the day, causing potential icy conditions especially on ramps, bridges, overpasses and other elevated surfaces.
The Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 1 pm this afternoon to 1 am on Monday.
- Expect mixed precipitation with snow accumulations of 1-3 inches and ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch.
- Avoid unnecessary travel. If you must travel, slow down and use caution. Roads will be slippery with the potential for black ice.
- Northern Virginia District crews pretreated interstates, primaries, and high-volume secondary roads, along with bridges, ramps and overpasses with brine.
More than 3,800 pieces of equipment will be deployed in the Northern Virginia District Sunday morning. Residents may begin to see trucks staged in neighborhoods while awaiting the start of the snowfall.
- Crews will work around the clock on state-maintained roads, focusing on clearing roads that carry the most traffic first. These include interstates, primary roads, and routes connecting public safety and emergency services. Crews can then focus on neighborhoods and lower-volume roads.
- In areas that are expected to receive higher accumulations of snow, park in driveways or on a single side of the street to allow a wider path for plows.
- Wind gusts will possibly bring down trees, branches, and power lines. Tree removal crews will be deployed to remove trees from the roadway.
VDOT, VA Dept. Of Emergency Management, Natl. Weather Service Update
Governor Northam declared a state of emergency this morning in preparation for the winter storm. Click here to read his emergency declaration
The Northam administration and the incoming Youngkin administration are working closely to ensure the transition of power does not disrupt efforts to prepare for and address the storm
Primary roads and interstates are currently being pretreated for the snow. All primary roads and interstates will be pretreated by tomorrow morning, January 15th at the latest
The storm will come in from the southwest and move eastward. The storm is expected to affect the whole Commonwealth by 2 pm, but it may occur between 11 am and 5 pm.
The current forecast shows an expected snowfall of 3-4 inches in Fairfax and Prince William County
Freezing rain is likely to begin Sunday afternoon and may continue into Sunday evening. The freezing rain is likely to cause tree damage.
Ice is likely to accumulate in Fairfax and Prince William County
The storm system will intensify rapidly with high winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour
Warm air from the east will change the snow to rain sometime Sunday afternoon. Conditions may vary widely depending on where this occurs
There is a likelihood of power outages with this storm due to the potential for wet snow and ice
Weather Updates
School Closures
Click Here For Fairfax School Closures
Click Here For Prince William School Closures
Important Resources
Dominion Resources Storm Center Outage and Restoration Updates
VDOT Street Problem Number
1 (800) FOR-ROAD
VDOT REAL-TIME ONLINE PLOW MAP
Stafford County: 540-658-4400
Winter Storm Guidance
Winter storms can range from freezing rain or ice, to a few hours of moderate snowfall, to a blizzard that lasts for several days. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures, power outages and unpredictable road conditions.
Before, during and after a winter storm, roads and walkways may become extremely dangerous or impassable. Access to critical community services such as public transportation, child care, healthcare providers and schools may be limited. Preparing your home, car and family before cold weather and a winter storm arrives is critical.
- During a winter storm, stay off the roads as much as possible and only drive when absolutely necessary. Always give snow plows the right of way.
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any other partially enclosed area.
- Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks! Always avoid overexertion when shoveling.
- When severe weather occurs, plan to check on elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives.
- If you must travel, know road conditions before you leave home. Visit 511Virginia.org or call 511 for road condition updates.
- Protect yourself from Frostbite! Hands, feet and face are the most commonly affected areas so wear a hat, mittens (which are warmer than gloves) and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.
- Keep dry! Change out of wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.
- Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer or heavy clothing.
Snow Removal
Due to COVID-19 restrictions that protect the safety of plow workers, it’s possible that plowing might take longer than usual this year. To track when your neighborhood will be plowed, visit the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) plowing website, which activates after 2 inches of snow have accumulated in your county. If you live on a private street, it is the responsibility of the developers or the homeowner’s association to arrange for the street to be cleared. Call 800-FOR-Road (800-367-7623) for information on snow removal or to inform VDOT of any snow removal problems. TTY users can call 711.
While there’s no legal obligation to clear the sidewalk in front of your house, we rely on residents to help keep neighborhoods pedestrian-friendly during snowy winters. Now more than ever, we’re encouraging younger residents who are able to assist their elderly neighbors with clearing their residential sidewalks to do so in a safe and socially distanced manner. Preventing unnecessary hospitalizations due to icy conditions is especially important during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Remember to exercise caution when driving, stay home if you’re able to, and make sure you’re informed before leaving your home. The VDOT website provides guidelines for how to commute and travel safely during snowy and icy conditions. Again, if you’re able to shelter in place, that’s always the safest option.
If you live in Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Emergency Information site provides up-to-date information on the forecast and how the weather could be affecting road conditions, traffic, and public transportation. If you live in Prince William County, you can access updates on weather and traffic conditions on their emergency event information site. If you live in Prince William County, more weather-related resources and updates can be found on the county website.
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