Falls Church City Council members appear to be closing in on simplified guidelines for shoveling sidewalks after winter storms.
City officials authorized a Sept. 14 public hearing on a proposal to create a uniform requirement that snow be removed within 12 hours of a storm’s end.
Falls Church officials plan to concentrate outreach efforts on commercial and retail corridors in their efforts to maintain snow-free sidewalks this coming winter.
However, city leaders will have to wait for legislative approval before attempting to levy fines on those who fail to follow snow-removal guidelines.
Piles of “snowcrete” and debris are still hanging on at a Virginia Square site almost two months after the winter storm that hit Arlington in late January.
Two main mounds of ice are still present in the parking lot at 1400 N. Quincy Street as of today (Monday) — the larger of which appears to be around 5 to 6 feet high at some points.
Late Wednesday afternoon it was sunny and in the mid-80s. Around 1 a.m. it was still in the 70s and one could go for a comfortable walk in shorts.
Half a day later, and we’re in the midst of an hours-long snowfall.
Granted, temperatures in Arlington are above freezing and accumulation is minimal. But the weather whiplash is real.
There’s something special about snow falling in slow motion on a fire apparatus. ❄️🚒 Winter responses just hit different! pic.twitter.com/nPGudiuuTS
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) March 12, 2026
While the past 24 hours might be particularly extreme — National Airport recorded a record high of 86 yesterday, and now it’s 33 degrees in North Arlington and snowing — the temperature roller coaster isn’t done.
Monday’s expected high temperature of 70 will be followed by a predicted low of 28 on Tuesday, according to forecasts.
That brings us to our poll question: What do you think about the snow today? Given the following two poll options, which one are you choosing?
A cold and snowy winter has produced large numbers of potholes in Arlington, though perhaps not as many as some might expect.
About 190 pothole fill requests have been filed in Arlington since Feb. 1, Peter Golkin, a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Services, told ARLnow. About 50 were pending as of Wednesday.
The potential for an inch of accumulating snow during the workday has prompted a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service.
The snow could complicate the evening commute, though it’s unclear how much would actually accumulate on roadways.
Local residents will be roasting under the midsummer sun when county staff bring forward plans to improve snow response in the 2026-27 winter season.
County Manager Mark Schwartz told County Board members on Feb. 24 that he would be back in July with new plans. And he wasn’t kidding about the timing.
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.
