FCPS Opening on Two Hour Delay Thursday

Fairfax County Public Schools will open two hours late Thursday, giving road crews and mother nature extra time to clear slippery and slushy roads.

FCPS made the announcement earlier this afternoon.

All Fairfax County public schools will open two hours late tomorrow, Feb. 21, 2019 (Condition 3B). School offices and central offices will open on time. SACC centers will open at 8:00 a.m.

— Fairfax Schools (@fcpsnews) February 20, 2019

Today’s earlier snow has given way to sleet and rain, including some freezing rain. Around 4 inches of accumulation were reported in places like Vienna and Falls Church.

The earlier Winter Storm Warning has been cancelled and replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory. From the National Weather Service:

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING…
…WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED…

* WHAT…MIXED PRECIPITATION. ADDITIONAL SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF LESS THAN ONE INCH THROUGH MID AFTERNOON, THEN ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH THROUGH 10 PM. ALL FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION TO RAIN BY 10 PM.

* WHERE…PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

* WHEN…UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE EVENING COMMUTE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW, SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. EXPECT SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES, AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

WHEN VENTURING OUTSIDE, WATCH YOUR FIRST FEW STEPS TAKEN ON STEPS, SIDEWALKS, AND DRIVEWAYS, WHICH COULD BE ICY AND SLIPPERY, INCREASING YOUR RISK OF A FALL AND INJURY.

Numerous crashes have been reported around Fairfax County today, including crashes involving overturned vehicles. Virginia State Police’s Fairfax Division reported 114 crashes and 111 disabled or stuck vehicles as of 3:45 p.m.

RT @FairfaxCountyPD: Our West Springfield District officers have been busy on the roads today. This accident was at Hooes and Triple Ridge. We already said please – stay off the roads until conditions improve! #FCPD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/zJXT9xRS09

— Fairfax County Government (@fairfaxcounty) February 20, 2019

VDOT is still urging residents to stay inside and off the roads if at all possible today.

“Even as conditions improve, drivers are asked to remain cautious this evening as sleet and freezing rain continue through the region,” VDOT said. “Crews continue to plow and treat roads, but with mixed precipitation and temperatures close to freezing, roads may become slick.”

Friends, we need to have a convo. It’s straight up gross out there. No more fluffy snow. It’s slushy, sleety, rainy, blech. Crews will continue to work through the night, esp on subdivision streets. Pls continue to give us room. And a reminder about how long it takes us… pic.twitter.com/n0AM9hSlea

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) February 20, 2019

Snow Removal: Who does What in Fairfax County pic.twitter.com/yjnmZpk9HX

— Fairfax County Government (@fairfaxcounty) February 20, 2019