What a difference a storm makes.
After January’s winter storm left nearly-impossible-to-plow snowcrete covering neighborhood roads in Arlington for days, local residents are waking up today to something very different: neatly plowed streets across much of the county.
With heavy snow continuing to fall, Arlington Public Schools has decided to close Monday.
The snow day for Arlington students follows earlier decisions by nearby Fairfax County and Montgomery County to also close. D.C. schools, meanwhile, will open on a two-hour delay.
Update at 9:20 p.m. — Arlington Public Schools will now be closed on Monday, the school system announced.
Earlier: The snow is starting to accumulate in Arlington as another winter storm ramps up.
A Winter Weather Advisory has officially been issued for Arlington and much of the D.C. area, ahead of Sunday’s expected storm.
The National Weather Service is currently predicting 2-4 inches of snow accumulation. The flakes will mostly fall Sunday night and early Monday, with temperatures dipping below freezing after a cold rain for most of the day.
Another winter storm could arrive in Arlington in a few days, but forecasts are still shaky going into the weekend.
As of this afternoon, the National Weather Service is predicting increasing odds of a winter storm warning going into effect on Sunday, and places Arlington at “elevated” risk for heavy snow and sleet.
It’s going to be a very windy — and very cold — Saturday.
A High Wind Warning has been issued for Arlington and most of the D.C. area, starting early Saturday. An Extreme Cold Warning will also be in effect.
It’s about to get even colder in Arlington this weekend.
An Extreme Cold Watch has been issued for Arlington County and the D.C. area, with “dangerously cold wind chills” as low as -10 expected Saturday, amid windy conditions that could also cause power outages.
A Special Weather Statement has been issued for Arlington, with forecasters warning of more possible snowfall.
From the National Weather Service:
HOUSTON (AP) — Winter’s brutal grip on the U.S. East is not letting up, with coming days bringing subfreezing temperatures that will plunge deep into what had been a toasty Florida peninsula and a powerful blizzard forecast that may strike the Atlantic coast.
Deep cold is forecast to stick around at least into the first week of February. Meteorologists are also watching what could become a “ bomb cyclone ” — a quickly intensifying storm that’s a winter version of a hurricane — forming off the Carolinas Friday night into Saturday.
The earlier Winter Storm Watch for Arlington and the D.C. area is now a Winter Storm Warning.
The National Weather Service issued the warning just after 10 a.m., predicting that this weekend’s storm will drop 7-14 inches of snow and sleet. Freezing rain is also looking likely, with the ice potentially causing tree damage and power outages.
Arlington and the D.C. area will experience dangerously cold conditions Friday night into Saturday morning, with wind chills dropping as low as 8 degrees below zero.
The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the area from 8 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. The extreme wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken, according to the weather service.
With a state of emergency declared in Virginia over forecasts of heavy snowfall this weekend, it may be time to brush up on Arlington’s snow removal ordinance.
The ordinance goes into effect after snow stops falling, but it varies based on how much accumulation there is. Penalties also vary based on the length of the sidewalk.
