Roads Becoming Treacherous As Snow Turns to Sleet

A number of crashes have been reported around Arlington as snow and sleet cause slick conditions on local roads.

Arlington Transit has suspended at least one route, and reported major delays on others, due to the conditions. VDOT, meanwhile, is calling for people to avoid driving until conditions improve.

“VDOT asks that drivers continue to avoid nonessential travel in Northern Virginia during rush hour and overnight, as weather transitions between snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain,” the agency said around 1:30 p.m. “Crews will be working around the clock to plow snow, treat for icy conditions, remove downed trees and monitor for flooding.”

Arlington and VDOT crews are continuing to treat local roads, with county crews primarily using salt and VDOT using plows and salt. The county’s hills have proven particularly problematic, with at least one dangerous stretch — on Carlin Springs Road around Route 50 — partially closed by police, per scanner traffic.

Steady snow started the transition to sleet in Arlington around 1 p.m. The sleet is expected to become rain later today, before perhaps transitioning back to snow. Both a Winter Weather Advisory and a Flood Watch are in effect this evening, with 1-2 inches of rain expected to fall.

The National Weather Service is reporting snow accumulation of 0.5 to 1 inch in Arlington, as of 1:30 p.m., though it may be higher or lower in parts of the county.

More via social media:

County crews continue to use salt along primary routes and trouble spots. Treatment is generally weakened by rain at or near freezing. Exercise extreme caution when attempting to drive during a winter storm. #ArlWX https://t.co/JnvPU3bK6U https://t.co/1YeaJ5VJ9j

— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) December 16, 2020

Very active day today and tonight across our region. Depending on your location, you could see flooding, ice or heavy snow. pic.twitter.com/jLOzZBFpA7

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) December 16, 2020

Measured 1.5 inches on the dot in Arlington before mixing to sleet/ice pellets @capitalweather @ARLnowDOTcom @WTOP pic.twitter.com/hnoQD6gy94

— Xavier (@xavierdomenico) December 16, 2020

Here's the earlier crash on I-395S express lanes before Eads (still blocking left side). That's @ArlingtonVaFD responding across the Potomac River from Southwest after making the round-trip into DC (the only access). @wtop @wtoptraffic @ARLnowDOTcom @VaDOTNOVA #traffic #Arlington pic.twitter.com/b9YBG4A720

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) December 16, 2020

It's a winter wonderland in Arlington!

We're closing at 2 pm today and delaying opening tomorrow until 10 am. If you're out and about, Saints, be safe and enjoy the snowfall ❄️☃️ pic.twitter.com/6V2tGK7Qhk

— Marymount University (@marymountu) December 16, 2020