The federal government is closed, and Arlington schools, government offices, courts and facilities are closed today due to expected snow.
Sleet is falling in parts of Arlington as of 7:30, as temperatures continue to fall. Conditions are expected to deteriorate later this morning.
From APS’ “School Talk” email:
“All APS schools and offices will be closed on Thu, Mar. 5. Extracurricular activities, interscholastic games, team practices, field trips, adult education classes, and programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled. For updates about Pool Operations, go to www.apsva.us/aquatics. For information about Arlington County programs and operations go to www.arlingtonva.us.”
Part of the ritual preparation for many includes heading to the grocery store to stock up on food and supplies, in particular milk, eggs, bottled water and bread.
“It’s going to be a freaking zoo in here,” an employee of Clarendon’s Trader Joe’s said, declining to give her name because company policy doesn’t allow staff members to speak to the media.
Up to 8 inches of snow are expected to fall Thursday, as cold air moves in and rain turns to sleet and snowflakes.
Arlington road crews — about 50 trucks total — are expected to start a “full team effort” to plow and treat roads at midnight, according to a Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman.
Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services says they will have all 50 of their snow-clearing trucks ready to clear Arlington’s 974 lane miles of roadway. So far, the department does not have an estimate for when crews will be able to move from clearing main roads to residential streets.
“We are closely monitoring the weather and will have our full resources (approximately 50 trucks) available,” said DES spokeswoman Shannon Whalen McDaniel. “The actual amount of snow that falls and the duration of the event (how long it falls) will dictate when our trucks can move from Phase 2 of clearing Primary Routes to Phase 3 – Residential Streets. We will notify the community when we shift phases.”
Update at 11:15 a.m. — The previous Winter Weather Advisory has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning.
Forecasters warn that sleet and freezing rain will continue through the day. Slippery conditions are already being reported around Arlington. If you absolutely must drive or walk outside today, do so carefully.
Many main roads were treated before the snow fell, making for an easy commute earlier this morning. The Arlington Public Schools cancellation and the federal government’s two hour delay resulted in much lighter traffic than usual.
As the snow has continued to fall throughout the morning commute, some neighborhood streets are now reported to be slick.
(Updated at 8:35 a.m.) Arlington Public Schools are closed Thursday.
APS made the call at 6:00 this morning, joining Alexandria, Fairfax County and numerous other local school systems that decided to close due to snow and poor road conditions.
Forecasters are only calling for 1-2 inches of snow, but even that could cause havoc because it is expected to be at its heaviest during the morning commute.
From NWS:
Drivers and pedestrians alike should be on the lookout for ice this morning as the temperature dips back below freezing.
Forecasters say slippery conditions are likely. From the National Weather Service.
Update at 6:10 p.m. — A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Arlington and the D.C. area.
.. WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST SUNDAY…
Arlington Public Schools will open on a two hour delay Friday morning, due to dangerously cold temperatures.
APS sent the following email Thursday night.
