Blizzard Watch in Effect for Reston, Metro DC Area This Weekend

Get ready for Reston’s first winter snow — and it is expected to be a big one that dumps at least a foot of snow here.

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Watch for the area for Friday and Saturday.

Here is the NWS’ report as of 11 a.m. Wednesday:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

HAZARD TYPES…HEAVY SNOW AND WIND. A WINTRY MIX IS POSSIBLE
FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING EAST OF INTERSTATE
95…BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO ALL SNOW ON SATURDAY.

ACCUMULATIONS…POTENTIAL FOR A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW.

TIMING…FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW…STRONGEST WINDS…AND POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.

IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND WILL BE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

WINDS…NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH FRIDAY. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH FRIDAY NIGHT…THEN SHIFT NORTH SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

USE THIS ADVANCE NOTICE TO PLAN AHEAD! ADJUST TRAVEL PLANS…AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES. STOCK UP ON NECESSITIES. MAKE PLANS FOR ELDERLY FAMILY AND THOSE MOST AT RISK. PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF
POWER OUTAGES DURING SNOWY AND COLD CONDITIONS. USE THIS TIME TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON YOU…YOUR FAMILY…AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

Snow in Reston/2014 file photo