Arlington and the rest of the D.C. area are gearing up for significant snowfall.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning this afternoon, to take effect at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Some 4-8 inches of snow are expected to fall by the time the flakes taper off Wednesday morning.
From NWS:
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY…
* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 to 8 inches.
* WHERE…The District of Columbia, central and southern Maryland, and central and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From 1 PM Tuesday to 7 AM EST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Snow will overspread the area late Tuesday morning into Tuesday afternoon, with the steadiest snow expected late Tuesday afternoon and evening. A light wintry mix may continue into Wednesday, but little to no additional accumulation is expected.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Snowfall rates around 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible late Tuesday afternoon and evening.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
Winter Weather Advisories & Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the area
Snow will overspread the area from SW to NE through the day on Tuesday
Snowfall rates will likely be ~ 1″ per hour Tuesday evening along/south of I-66/US-50
Latest https://t.co/ZOlvEShgSf pic.twitter.com/lI22PYBjJS
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 10, 2025
With heavy snow in the forecast, Arlington Public Schools will be dismissing two hours early on Tuesday, and the GW Parkway is planning to close from Spout Run to the Beltway at midnight tonight.
From the National Park Service:
The George Washington Memorial Parkway, from 495 to Spout Run, be closed starting at 12 a.m. on February 11 until further notice due to the forecasted severe winter weather in the area. This closure is necessary to ensure the proper treatment of the roadway and to restore the parkway to safe travel conditions. Crews will work diligently to treat the road for safe passage of drivers. Drivers should anticipate delays in reopening the northern section of the parkway as crews are required to use smaller equipment than usual to accommodate the lane widths and configurations. Please plan to use alternate routes.
A follow-up alert will be distributed once the parkway has reopened.
Brine pretreatment on Arlington County and VDOT streets and highways was well underway today, in anticipation of the storm.
Authorities are urging locals to stay off the roads once the snow starts accumulating.
From VDOT:
Another winter weather storm system is expected to reach the commonwealth late tonight and continue through Wednesday morning. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have been pretreating roads where appropriate in anticipation of the storm. Motorists should plan their travels around the weather and stay off the roads once the storm arrives as treacherous road conditions are expected to develop.
Snow along with a possible wintry mix of freezing rain is forecasted for most of the commonwealth. Most areas in central and southern Virginia could experience icing on roads during the storm along with snow. Precipitation will start in the overnight hours in the western part of the state and progress eastward through Tuesday morning. Monitor your local forecasts for specific timing and weather details.
As crews continue working to pretreat roads, drivers should give them extra space. Pretreatment of roads in areas where weather is beginning as rain is ineffective since materials would be washed away ahead of the arrival of winter precipitation. The cooperation of motorists staying off the roads during and following the storm is critical for crews to operate safely and efficiently.
Visit VDOT’s Districts webpage for more details in your area.
Before traveling, be sure to check roadway conditions by using VDOT’s free 511 mobile app, which offers information about road conditions, traffic, incidents, construction, and congestion as well as access to traffic cameras, weather and more. Information is also available at 511.vdot.virginia.gov or by calling 511 while in Virginia.
For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).
