After a snowless winter, it looks like Reston will finally be hit.
Forecasters are predicting several inches of snow for the area, with an outside chance of a foot or more, beginning tonight and continuing into Tuesday.
We're lowering the snow forecast a little in the immediate area. Remains a (complicated!) significant snowstorm. https://t.co/sVDps838I1 pic.twitter.com/DuzOHrDUiW
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 13, 2017
The National Weather Service has placed an area including Reston under a winter storm warning that is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Monday and last through 2 p.m. Tuesday. According to the alert, their official predictions include the following:
* PRECIPITATION TYPE…Snow…possibly mixed with sleet at times
Monday night.* ACCUMULATIONS…Snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches.
* TIMING…Snow will overspread the area Monday evening and
persist through Tuesday morning.* IMPACTS…The heavy snow will create difficult travel
conditions and may produce scattered power outages.* WINDS…Northeast 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
* TEMPERATURES…In the lower 30s.
Simulated satellite of what's about to happen the next 2 days #noreaster #blizzard #Stella pic.twitter.com/PjFmiJ3KPQ
— Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) March 13, 2017
In preparation for the storm, the Virginia Department of Transportation began pre-treating roads Sunday. The department is encouraging drivers to adjust their schedules to be off roads before the evening rush hour Monday and overnight.
“This will help avoid being stuck on the roads when the storm begins, and to allow crews room to work more safely and efficiently,” VDOT said in a release.
In addition, VDOT asks that vehicles be parked in driveways, or that communities coordinate to all park on the same side of the road, to allow a larger path when plows begin to focus on neighborhood streets.
NEW: National Weather Service reduced their forecast from 6-8" to 4-6" in Washington, DC. We will release a new map following PM models! pic.twitter.com/h6Z1I20Mkn
— Mike Thomas (@MikeTFox5) March 13, 2017
Such a significant snowfall would also have an impact on public transportation.
Metro will suspend its MetroAccess paratransit services at 4 p.m. today, and they will remain out of service through Tuesday. In addition, Metrobus service changes are possible and will be announced based on weather conditions and forecast.
Fairfax Connector is reminding users that service may be reduced, modified or suspended, on a route-by-route basis or systemwide. Riders are encouraged to monitor schedules online or call customer service (703-339-7200) for updates.
Photo via Virginia Department of Transportation on Twitter (@VaDOTNOVA)
Is It Going to Snow This Weekend or Not? — A few snowflakes are possible this weekend, but forecasts seem to indicate a growing chance that a storm previously predicted to hit us will miss the area. [Capital Weather Gang]
RA Focusing on Future of Golf Courses — In the latest “Reston Today” dispatch, Reston Association land-use attorney John McBride breaks down what’s going on with potential threats to Reston National Golf Course and Hidden Creek Country Club. [Reston Association/YouTube]
Seuss To Be Celebrated at Library — Children ages 4 and up are invited to Reston Regional Libary on Monday at 4:30 p.m. for a celebration of the works of Dr. Seuss. Steve Somers will present the stories at the event, co-sponsored by Friends of Reston Regional Library. [Reston Regional Library]
Reston Company Named to CNBC ‘Upstart’ List — Reston-based Cloudistics gives its customers “all the simplicity, elasticity and consumption characteristics of the public cloud, with the predictability of performance, cost and data governance that a private cloud offers.” Its work has been honored by recognition on CNBC’s list of 25 startups that are breaking industry barriers. [CNBC]
Strong Storms Possible Later Today — Temperatures in the 70s are again predicted for this afternoon. However, showers and thunderstorms are possible into the evening, with damaging winds and large hail also possible. [Capital Weather Gang]
More Craft Beer on the Way? — New zoning regulations approved Tuesday by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors may open the door for more small breweries in Reston. There are currently seven licensed craft breweries in the county. [Fairfax County]
Rider: Metro Worst System He’s Used — David Ballard, of Reston, compares his experience on the Metro to public transportation systems in Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland, Dallas and Mexico City. He says the DC system not only is “by far” worse than the others, it’s more expensive. [Washington Post]
Metro Ridership Down Dramatically — At the Wiehle-Reston East station, ridership was down 13.4 percent in the last quarter of 2016. Ridership on the Silver Line as a whole was down 9 percent. [WTOP]
Summertime, are you here already?
The temperature pushed the high end of the 70s Thursday afternoon, the fourth day in February during which the mercury has broken into those figures.
Today will be the 4th time this month (February, in case you forgot) in the 70s. 74 is average for May 10th #NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/rSIVbOEtRo
— Chuck Bell (@ChuckBell4) February 23, 2017
At nearby Dulles International Airport, the thermometer hit 76 degrees at 2 p.m. — breaking the previous Feb. 23 record, set in 1985, by 3 degrees. It is the second-highest February temperature ever recorded at the airport, since records began in 1963.
Dulles Airport soars to 76 degrees, crushing previous record high: https://t.co/2Wxwu6JQ4p
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) February 23, 2017
Around Reston, residents could be seen enjoying the unseasonable warmth as they have been for the past several days — biking, running on trails, gathering around Lake Anne, working outdoors and altogether just soaking in a February unlike others in recent memory.
Doors are open and the patio is rockin'! Keep the 74º weather coming. @RestonTwnCenter @RestonChamber #RestonTownCenter pic.twitter.com/g48X26jNva
— Mon Ami Gabi (@MonAmiReston) February 23, 2017
The forecast for the next few days shows high temperatures dropping to the 50s Sunday and Monday, only to go back up mid-week as February turns to March.
Looks like Feb will end with 23 of 28 days above avg. @DMVFollowers have saved tons of $ on heating bills. #NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/WTlPqgBc4c
— Chuck Bell (@ChuckBell4) February 23, 2017
So, what do you think about this weather? Would you like to see it continue?
As winter approaches, parents of students in Fairfax County public schools must prepare for one of the biggest disruptions to their weekday routine — snow days.
Fairfax County Public Schools officials will often try to make a decision the night before regarding whether to delay or cancel school. This can happen if snow has already begun to fall or if a majority of national weather forecasters agree inclement weather is likely by morning. In cases when the forecast is uncertain, though, officials may wait until 4:30 a.m. for the most up-to-date conditions.
One way to keep up with the latest school weather announcements is to download the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) app to your smartphone. The FCPS app is available in the iTunes App Store and on Google Play.
Parents can also contact their child’s school to sign up for text-message alerts about inclement weather decisions.
In addition, school officials say that decisions and announcements will be posted to the district’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, and emails will be sent to parents and subscribers of the FCPS “News You Choose” newsletter. Notifications are also posted to Fairfax County’s cable-access station, Channel 21 (Cox, Reston Comcast and Verizon customers), and sent to local print, online, radio and television media outlets.
Thirteen snow days are built into the 2016-17 school calendar. If 13 or fewer school days are canceled due to inclement weather, no make-up days will need to be added onto the end of the year in June, and no days off for holidays or in-service days will need to be canceled.
A 14th day is also allowed, however, as a free day. After the 14th missed day, every other snow day will need to be made up. A 15th snow day, for example, would be made up by canceling the traditional day off after Easter Sunday — which this year would be Monday, April 17.
We may see a bit of snow on the ground in Reston later this week, meteorologists warn, though the forecast remains in flux.
Late Thursday night into early Friday morning, the forecasters say there is a chance we could experience a coating of up to an inch. There is a higher probability for snowfall between late Friday night and Sunday morning, the Capital Weather Gang says, but the prognosticators believe that snow could miss the local area and hit more to the southeast.
More information about school make-up days can be found on the FCPS website.
Video by Fairfax County Public Schools, via YouTube
It’s not your imagination. It has been raining for nearly two weeks — and that is a new record.
Northern Virginia residents who have been looking for spring sunshine instead have gotten record sogginess since late April.
The Capital Weather Gang confirms that May 8 tied the record for consecutive days with rain here at 12. And it is raining again today, so that makes 13 and a record-breaker.
The previous records were 10 straight says, set in July of 1938 and August of 1873, the CWG says.
We may even see 14 or or more straight days as there is still rain in the forecast for much of this week.
See lots of stats and charts on the CWG. And stay dry out there.
Update: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Fairfax County until 11 p.m. tonight.
Original story, 12:45 p.m. Wednesday: The National Weather Service is predicting a good chance of heavy wind gusts and torrential rain this afternoon, which could impact the evening rush hour.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has placed the D.C. area in its “enhanced risk” zone for severe thunderstorms, which is level three on its one-to-five scale.
The Capital Weather Gang has a timeline of what to expect:
- Timing:Â 4 to 10 p.m.
- Coverage: Widespread showers and storms
- Storm motion: Southwest to northeast
- Storm duration: 20 to 30 minutes, but multiple showers and storms possible
- Likely impacts: Heavy rain
- Possible impacts: Damaging winds, flash flooding, small hail
- Cannot rule out: Isolated tornadoes, large hail
The Storm Prediction Center indicates there is a 30 percent chance of damaging winds within 25 miles of a point in the region, and 10-15 percent chance of tornadoes. A stronger tornado cannot be ruled (at least EF2 on the 0-5 scale) south of the D.C. area, the CWG says.
Northern Virginia remains under a Flood Watch until midnight tonight.
Photo: Rain/Credit: Bahmad Farzad via Flickr
There will be no dashing through the snow this weekend. No sleigh bells or Jack Frost, either.
There may, however, be some driving with the top down to do your Christmas shopping.
Weather forecasters are predicting highs of nearly 70 degrees — more than 20 degrees above normal — for Saturday and Sunday.
Here is what the Capital Weather Gang is saying:
Saturday is a delight from start to finish. There should be plenty of sun with some occasional clouds passing by. Breezes start to pick up from the southwest and help push highs to mid-to-upper 60s. The sunset comes much too early but with readings still in the 60s in the evening it is hard to find fault. Clouds begin to build in overnight. Lows only fall to the upper 40s to lower 50s.
Skies on Sunday have a veil of high clouds. A warm wind from the south provides a good chance that some areas could hit record highs as temperatures peak in the mid-60s to around 70. Clouds are likely to increase in the evening as a storm in the Mississippi Valley starts to fire up and head our way. Overnight lows only drop to the low-to-mid 50s.
Could this mean a mild winter in Northern Virginia? The Capital Weather gang says expect a “run-of-the-mill” season with a few snow events.
But for now, enjoy the last taste of fall.
Northern Virginia residents who are sweating through a typical D.C.-area summer are about to get a visit from an old friend.
The Capital Weather Gang reports that the Polar Vortex, last winter’s frigid weather pattern that gripped much of the country with record cold temperatures, may be returning.
Says the Capital Weather Gang, who calls the pattern “A poor man’s Polar Vortex:“
Call it the ghost of the polar vortex, the polar vortex sequel, or the polar vortex’s revenge. Meteorological purists may tell you it’s not a polar vortex at all. However you choose to refer to the looming weather pattern, unseasonably chilly air is headed for parts of the northern and northeastern U.S at the height of summer early next week.
Bearing a haunting resemblance to January’s brutally cold weather pattern, a deep pool of cool air from the Gulf of Alaska will plunge into the Great Lakes early next week and then ooze towards the East Coast.
Of course, this is July, not January, so temperatures forecast to be roughly 10 to as much as 30 degrees below average won’t have quite the same effect.
While the Midwest, particularly the upper Midwest, will see some fall-like weather, here in Reston it may just actually be really pleasant. The Capital Weather Gang says temperatures here are likely to be about 10 degrees below normal.  Highs may struggle to reach 80 in D.C. on Tuesday and Wednesday, with widespread lows in the 50s (even 40s in the mountains).
Meteorologists have been commenting on the rarity of a weather pattern that looks so similar hitting a region in both summer and winter: Low pressure over the Aleutians near Alaska, a large hit ridge over the Western U.S., and a huge cold low or vortex over the Great Lakes.
In any case, 80 in July sounds much more pleasant than 99. Or 5 below.
