As anticipated, Fairfax County residents woke up this morning to a world coated in snow, which is expected to continue falling throughout the day and potentially into tomorrow.
As of 7:08 a.m., the National Weather Service was predicting up to four or six inches of snow to accumulate in the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, as a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until midnight.
Here is more from the most recent NWS alert:
* WHAT…Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Snow accumulations through Sunday night around 4 to 6 inches with ice accumulations of a light glaze.
* WHERE…The Washington Metropolitan area.
* WHEN…Through midnight EST tonight. The steadiest snow will fall through this afternoon before tapering off to an intermittent mix of light snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Additional snow is expected Monday through Monday night with additional accumulations most likely around 1 to 3 inches, bringing the storm total accumulations around 4 to 8 inches.
* IMPACTS…Travel will be very difficult Sunday through Tuesday morning due to a prolonged period of snow and wintry precipitation with temperatures near or below freezing.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is advising people to avoid unnecessary travel so that its crews have room to work treating and plowing roads.
“Stay home and avoid driving throughout the storm,” VDOT said in a 6 a.m. update. “Heavy snow bands will mean reduced visibility and potential for conditions to deteriorate quickly. Should the higher end of forecasts materialize, it will take some time to make a passable lane on all roads.”
#Winter weather driving tips โคต๏ธ
๐ทโโ๏ธ Give crews time to treat roads
โ๏ธ Clear snow from your ENTIRE car
โ๏ธ Allow extra time to reach your destination
โ๏ธ Increase your following distance
๐ก Use your headlights
๐ No sudden stops! Brake lightly to keep your tires from slipping pic.twitter.com/kpMqr1UFVF— VDOT (@VaDOT) January 31, 2021
The Virginia State Police reported earlier this morning that its troopers had already responded to 34 crashes by 9 a.m., though most of the incidents did not result in any injuries and involved only damage to vehicles.
The City of Falls Church activated its snow emergency routes at 9 a.m., prohibiting residents and visitors from parking on several major roads.
“The City’s snow emergency routes need to be open for first responders, public safety officials and road crews at all times and thus have priority for salting, sanding and plowing,” the city said in a press release. “…Vehicles abandoned or parked on snow emergency routes could be ticketed and towed to allow snow removal crews to clear the roads.”
A full list of affected streets can be found in the press release and on the City’s website.
The City says its response to Winter Storm Orlena has not been hampered by recent concerns about COVID-19 that sent the entire Falls Church public works staff into quarantine last week. Plowing in the city is being conducted by a combination of contractors and staff members who were cleared to leave quarantine by the Fairfax County Health Department.
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) The D.C. metropolitan area could potentially get its biggest snowfall in two years starting on Sunday (Jan. 31), The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang predicts.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region at 3:10 p.m. today:
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE. POTENTIAL FOR 5 OR MORE INCHES OF
SNOW.
* WHERE…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MARYLAND, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND THE
EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
* WHEN…FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.
The current forecast for the Tysons area suggests Saturday night will see clouds set in with a 30% chance of snow or other precipitation after 4 a.m. Chances of precipitation go up to 100% on Sunday, when snow is expected to start falling before 4 p.m. with some freezing rain possibly mixed in.
The NWS forecast suggest snow could continue through Monday with the chance of precipitation still at 50% that night.
As of 9:57 a.m. today, the D.C. area was expected to get three to four inches of snow between 7 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Monday.
[1/29 @ 9 AM UPDATE]: We are continuing to monitor the winter weather potential for Sunday into early next week. Below is the current expected snowfall amounts from the National Weather Service through Monday at 7 AM. More to come! #WinterWeather #VaWx pic.twitter.com/3Mv6r6AHXM
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) January 29, 2021
However, the Capital Weather Gang says this is a “complicated” storm, where total accumulation could vary from two to 12 inches depending on whether a coastal storm forms off the North Carolina coast and brings a second wave on Monday.
In preparation for the weekend, Virginia Department of Transportation crews have been treating roads in Fairfax County and elsewhere in Northern Virginia over the past two days.
If you are traveling today, please be patient with our crews! We are working to pre-treat roads in preparation for winter weather this weekend โ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/N6vHalFq0h
— VDOT (@VaDOT) January 29, 2021
Despite rumors to the contrary ๐, our squishy bois (tankers) will start making #brinelines tonight in Loudoun (they loves them some night brining), and Friday during the day in Fairfax, PWC, and Interstates. Pls watch out for crews & the forecast! #gregpls #teamsnow pic.twitter.com/l1QeTmdQcf
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) January 28, 2021
The Fairfax Connector is advising passengers to plan ahead if they’re going to travel this weekend, noting that service could be reduced, modified, or suspended due to inclement weather.
“If road conditions become unsafe, icy or snow packed, service may be suspended on a route-by-route basis, or system-wide,” the Fairfax County bus transit system said. “Officials appreciate passengers’ patience and cooperation during weather events and encourage everyone to be prepared.”
Staff Photo by Jay Westcott
Juice enthusiasts can now get their fix while grocery shopping at Whole Foods Market in The Boro.
Purรฉe Artisan Juice Bar held a soft opening for its new permanent space in Whole Foods (1635 Boro Place) on Dec. 18, and it has been operating as a full-service retail location since Jan. 4.
This is Purรฉe’s second location in the Tysons area. The flagship store is in Bethesda, Md., and it can also be found in Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C. and the Mosaic District in Merrifield.
“The opportunity to join as a Friend of Whole Foods Market has been an exciting experience for Purรฉe especially in the winter months during a global pandemic,” Jordan von Lange, Purรฉe’s marketing and e-commerce director, said in a press release. “Our values of wellness and organic, holistic living naturally align with Whole Foods and the partnership is a direct result of that.”
The Friends of Whole Foods program provides independent space inside the grocery store to other businesses and retailers.
The Tysons Purรฉe features at least 15 flavors of organic and vegan cold-pressed juices, including seasonal options. The store also offers one to three-day cleanse programs, a full menu of smoothies and smoothie bowls, and plant-based grab-and-go options.
Open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., the juice bar is located on the first floor of Whole Foods between Allegro Coffee and the produce section. Customers can also order online for in-person or curbside pickup and through the delivery apps ChowNow and Doordash.
A loyalty program to return glass bottles for recycling is also available at the Purรฉe in The Boro.
“Our hope for this shop is to work with the Whole Foods team to provide convenient and healthy options for our new community,” von Lange said.
The food service industry is in survival mode this winter, as COVID-19 cases remain high in Fairfax County and around the U.S.
Increased flexibility for outdoor dining operations, along with a greater emphasis on takeout and delivery services, helped sustain many restaurants during the summer and fall, but the chillier weather has made convincing people to eat or drink outside a trickier proposition.
The National Restaurant Association reported in December that sales had dropped by $2.2 billion — or 4% — in November from the previous month and were expected to decline further over the winter. Overall, the food service industry has seen a nearly 20% drop in sales compared to business pre-pandemic.
To rally public support, local restaurants, breweries, and cafes have turned to a range of promotions, from restaurant weeks to a #BundleUp campaign led by Caboose Brewing Company, which runs Caboose Tavern in Vienna and Caboose Commons in Merrifield, and the the Lake Anne Brew House in Reston.
Have you been patronizing restaurants and other food and beverage establishments this winter? Are you sticking with delivery and takeout orders, or are you willing to try dining outside — or even indoors?
Photo via Spencer Davis on Unsplash
Fairfax County Extends Deadline for Real Estate and Vehicle Tax Relief — Seniors over the age of 65, people with permanent disabilities, and renters may be eligible for tax relief. Applicants must file between Jan. 1, 2021 and May 3, 2021, though exceptions may be available if a late filing is due to a hardship which prevented the application from being filed on time. [Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Office]
New Pedestrian Trail at McLean Metro Station Now Openย — “The trail starts on Magarity Road, near Westgate Elementary School and the Pimmitt Hills neighborhoods, running through Scott’s Run Stream Valley Park and Westgate Park toward the Metro station. Robin Geiger, a spokesperson for Fairfax County, said the county started construction on the $4.5 million trail in July 2019 and finished this last December.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Chief Medical and Technology Officer for Tysons Nonprofit Discusses COVID-19 Responseย — “MITRE helped form the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition, a private-sector led response that brings together healthcare organizations, technology firms, nonprofits, academia, and startups to preserve the healthcare delivery system and help protect U.S. populations.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Falls Church Theater Company Offers Scholarships — “Providence Players of Fairfax (PPF) is offering up to (3) $1,500 scholarship opportunities to college-bound, graduating seniors. Application requirements & details are published on the PPF website under About Us- Community Outreach. The application deadline is April 30, 2021.” [Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik/Twitter]
The woman who was killed in a hit-and-run crash yesterday has been identified as 81-year-old Raymunda Garcia-Hernandez of Falls Church, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
The crash occurred in the 7200 block of Lee Highway in Falls Church, not the 7300 block as previously reported. After receiving a report of a person lying in the roadway just prior to 9 p.m., police officers arrived on the scene to find Garcia-Hernandez in the westbound lanes.
Rescue personnel pronounced her dead at the scene. The crash required a closure of westbound Route 29 at Graham Road that lasted until around 4 a.m. on Thursday.
Detectives have determined through a preliminary crash investigation that Garcia-Hernandez was crossing Lee Highway outside of a crosswalk when she was struck by an unknown vehicle that did not stop.
With the vehicle still not located, FCPD is seeking witnesses for its investigation, which remains ongoing. Anyone with information can contact the crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543 or submit tips anonymously.
Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Solvers by web, phone (1-866-411-TIPS), and text (type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411). The FCPD also has a mobile Tip411 app called “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers.” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 if their information leads to an arrest.
This is the first pedestrian fatality of 2021 for Fairfax County. The county recorded 127 vehicle crashes involving pedestrians in 2020, resulting in 15 deaths and 134 injuries, according to preliminary data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fairfax County has been developing a countywide pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative and implementing other measures, such as a lane closure pilot project, in an effort to reduce fatalities and crashes.
A new store that specializes in eco-friendly custom furniture will open its doors at Tysons Galleria on Monday (Feb. 1).
Whomย will be located in Suite 1126 on 2001 International Dr. Its operating hours will be 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12-6 p.m. on Sundays.
This will be Whom’s second brick-and-mortar location after the flagship store opened in Los Angeles, Calif., last year.
“We’re eager to expand our showroom concept on the East Coast and have found a great partnership with [Tysons Galleria owner and manager] Brookfield Properties,” Whom CEO and founder Jonathan Bass said.
It is a division of the furniture design company Innova Luxury Group Inc.ย and the manufacturer PTM Images, which owns and operates a 300,000 square-foot factory in Mexico that produces all of the furniture sold by Whom.
Whom consists of a showroom where customers can browse home furniture and decor that they can then order custom-made. The company says it uses sustainable hardwood, materials from recycled polystyrene pulled from the ocean, and non-toxic paints and finishes. It also offers more than 50 easy-to-clean fabrics.
“Our customer is not only concerned about the initial impact their purchase makes, but the subsequent impact of landfilling their home products,” Bass said. “Consumers increasingly want furniture that will last longer, so they don’t need to replace it as often due to the effects on the environment.”
Photo courtesy Whom Home
(Updated at 11:05 a.m. on 1/29/2021) Fairfax County should provide hazard pay to all local government workers, a union that represents more than 2,000 general county employees argues.
The county is currently considering a proposal to provide a one-time $1,500 hazard pay bonus to workers who are at high risk of exposure to COVID-19. Staff say about 4,000 employees would be eligible for the benefit.
However, SEIU Virginia 512 — the Fairfax County government employees’ union — says the bonus should be available to all workers, because they have all taken risks and been forced to adapt so the county can keep providing essential services during the pandemic.
As of yesterday (Wednesday), a petition urging Fairfax County supervisors to extend $1,500 hazard pay bonuses to all staff has been signed by nearly 1,000 workers, with more signatures expected to come, according to SEIU Senior Communications Specialist Rachel Mann.
“We’ve all been impacted by what’s going on. Whether we are doing our assigned work or not, we are still working,” SEIU Virginia 512 Executive Board President Tammie Wondong said. “…We are continuing to keep Fairfax County running. Residents are being continually served. So, that’s why everyone needs to have hazard pay.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors was initially scheduled to vote on the proposed plan on Tuesday (Jan. 26), but the decision was postponed after Chairman Jeff McKay asked staff to continue discussions with the union and other workers’ groups.
Under the staff plan, hazard pay would go to workers whose risk of being exposed to COVID-19 is rated “high” or “very high” by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) risk assessment. It would also be limited to merit or career positions.
Fairfax County intends to pay for the bonuses using CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds. Federal guidelines, however, dictate that CARES Act money can only be used for hazard pay if an employee is performing duties that involve physical hardship related to COVID-19 response efforts.
In other words, localities must establish criteria for hazard pay eligibility to use CARES relief funds, Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget Director Christina Jackson told the board on Jan. 12.
The county could use its own funds to extend hazard pay to more workers, but McKay suggests employees should temper their expectations for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2022 budget.
“Based on the economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic, it will be challenging to address many of the Board’s priorities in the FY2022 [budget],” McKay said in a statement to Tysons Reporter. “The budget is still early stages and we are exploring what options are available, but it is unlikely we would have the resources to increase hazard pay funding in the next budget cycle.” Read More
Metro riders will now be able to make calls, listen to music, and scroll through social media while commuting without risking any service interruptions.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced yesterday (Wednesday) that it has finished establishing a systemwide wireless network, bringing WiFi to all 91 Metrorail stations and throughout 100 miles of tunnels.
The Silver Line in Tysons was one of the last three segments of the network to come online, along with the tunnels from Dupont Circle in D.C. to White Flint in Maryland and the Yellow Line between L’Enfant Plaza and the Pentagon.
According to a Metro press release, the project had been underway for more than a decade and involved partnerships with three major wireless carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
“Bringing this project to the finish line gives riders added security and all the conveniences of wireless connectivity,” WMATA General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said. “Customers can text, talk, and explore the internet and apps, including Metro’s mobile payment options to load value and manage their SmarTrip account while traveling on Metro.”
Congress ushered in wireless service for Metro with the passage of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, which included an amendment authorizing grants for WMATA maintenance projects and requiring the transit agency to ensure access to wireless provider services.
Funded by an agreement between Metro and the wireless carriers, the project required the installation of more than 400 miles of cabling and infrastructure. WMATA attributes the lengthy timeline to the fact that much of the work could only be done when trains were not operating, limiting workers to three or four-hour overnight maintenance windows and scheduled track outages.
The completion of Metro’s wireless system will improve the safety of Metro riders and workers, according to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who helped facilitate the project with the rest of the D.C. region’s Congressional delegation.
“The federal government and the region have made substantial investments in making this system safer and more reliable, from rebuilding tracks to introducing new rail cars,” Warner said. “Now passengers will be able to use their cellphones underground throughout the system.”
Wiedefeld says systemwide wireless coverage will pave the way for Metro to implement technology that provides real-time communications with customers and allows the rail system to operate more efficiently. It could also be critical for enabling first responders to communicate in an emergency.
The wireless carriers will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and maintenance of their own networks, including testing and enhancements.
“This significant joint investment provides a communications network that allows each provider’s customers to stay connected with their friends, families and favorite content when using the Metro system,” AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon said in a joint statement. “The cooperative approach adopted by the Providers and WMATA was critical in bringing this project to fruition.”
Photo by Michelle Goldchain
A fatal hit-and-run crash forced the Falls Church section of westbound Lee Highway at Graham Road to closed for hours last night (Wednesday).
Fairfax County police officers responded to the 7300 block of Lee Highway before 10 p.m. An adult woman was pronounced dead at the scene. No description of the suspect vehicle has been released yet.
All of westbound Route 29 was closed in the surrounding area, leading to delays as traffic was diverted onto Graham Road, according to an emergency traffic alert from Fairfax County.
Lee Highway reopened around 4 a.m. today, but the Fairfax County Police Department says detectives with its crash reconstruction unit are still investigating the crash, which involved a pedestrian.
Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit are continuing to investigative this fatal hit and run crash involving a pedestrian. Lee Hwy is now open. Updates will be posted to our blog, https://t.co/lhGv3NDvYs, when available.https://t.co/3xQVbAwcod
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 28, 2021
