Weather

JUST IN: Overnight ice threat looms as sidewalk shoveling deadline nears

By ARLnow.com
A crew shovels snow in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

If you have a sidewalk on your property, you now have less than 12 hours to clear away the snow and ice from it.

Arlington’s snow removal ordinance, approved in 2010, gives owners 36 hours to shovel public sidewalks adjacent to their property after a storm with more than six inches of snow accumulation.

According to the county website, that means the deadline is 2 a.m. tonight.

“A recent weather event has concluded and deposited snow/ice accumulations of more than 6 inches,” the county says. “Arlington’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires residents and businesses to clear adjacent public sidewalks of snow and ice by 2:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.”

Those cleared sidewalks — and roads — could be icy by tomorrow morning, however. A period of light freezing rain is possible overnight, forecasters say.

From the National Weather Service:

244 PM EST Tue Jan 4 2022

…POTENTIAL WINTER COMMUTING HAZARD FOR THE BALTIMORE / WASHINGTON METRO AREAS WEDNESDAY MORNING…

There is a potential for hazardous commuting conditions for the Wednesday morning commute. A period of light freezing rain is POSSIBLE (a 30 to 50 percent chance) Wednesday morning across the Baltimore / Washington metro areas with a light glaze of ice possible on area roads.

If this threat does materialize during the Wednesday morning rush-hour, many roads could quickly turn icy. This could lead to dangerous traveling conditions, multiple accidents, and extensive delays.

If commuting Wednesday morning, be aware of the POSSIBILITY of significant travel disruptions. Plan ahead by allowing for extra travel time, and consider using public transportation and telework options.

Stay tuned for updates on this potential winter weather episode.

The freezing rain threat is greatest east of I-95, however, and Arlington was not included in a just-issued Winter Weather Advisory.