Roads quickly turned dangerous as more than two inches of snow fell in Reston between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday with no sign of letting up at mid-day.
The National Weather Service had predicted bad weather, and Fairfax County Public Schools events were canceled for Saturday. But the NWS’ Winter Weather Advisory was changed Saturday morning to a Winter Storm Warning that will be in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday.
The NWS says a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will fall. From the NWS:
3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW. ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF A TRACE TO A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH.
TIMING…SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO RAIN WITH AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN LATE TONIGHT.
TEMPERATURES…HIGHS TODAY IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S. TEMPERATURES SLOWLY RISING TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. * WINDS…WINDS SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH TODAY INTO TONIGHT NIGHT. WEST 5 TO 10 MPH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
IMPACTS…SNOW AND ICE WILL CAUSE HAZARDOUS TRAVELING CONDITIONS SATURDAY THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
As of noon Saturday, most major roads had not been plowed and driving was treacherous. The Virginia Department of Transportation says there a “accidents everywhere” in Northern Virginia, and people should stay off the roads.
Photo: Baron Cameron near Wiehle Saturday, Feb. 21/Credit: Lana Jones via Facebook