The calendar says we are in spring. The forecast says it is really still winter.

Temperatures will remain more than 20 degrees below normal through Wednesday, forecasters say.

And we might get one more snow event on Tuesday.

Snow showers are expected to begin late Monday into early Tuesday. Reston could see a small accumulation of about 1 to 3 inches, says the National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, Dulles International Airport set a new low for March 24 on Monday, when the temperature plunged to 19 degrees. The old record 21, set in 1984.  This is the second record low set at Dulles this month (other date March 4, when it was -1 ) and fourth record low this winter (other dates February 28 and January 7, when it was 14 and 6, respectively.), says the Capital Weather Gang.

Last year, Northern Virginia also received measurable snowfall on March 25. In 1990, four inches of snow was measured at Dulles in April.

Even if it snows on Tuesday, the snow won’t be around for long. Temperatures will be in the 50s by Wednesday and the 60s by the weekend.

Fairfax County Public School students will already be in school until June 24 in order to make up snow days.

But the FCPS calendar only builds in makeup plans for 10 snow days, so that is as far as the calendar goes for now.

The winter of 2013-14 will go in the books as the snowiest winter since the 2009-10 “Snowmageddeon,” which shut down the system for more than a week straight.

Monday’s 11-inch storm — a rarity for Northern Virginia in March — was No. 11 for FCPS students this year.

Virginia law requires public schools to provide at least 180 days or 990 hours of instructional time annually. But it also allows the state Board of Education to waive the requirement if districts shut down in the aftermath of a state of emergency declared by the governor. A state of emergency has been declared twice this winter, including during the snow storm on March 3.

FCPS was last granted a waiver from the requirement in 2010 following the nearly two feet of snow that fell in back-to-back February storms.  The district needed to schedule five make-up days, but only found time for four in the spring calendar. The board waived the requirement for the fifth make up day.

FCPS spokesman John Torre said the system is looking at a variety of options but no decisions have been made.

“Several options could be considered including adding another day at the end of the year, adding minutes to the school day or seeking a waiver from the state,” he said.  “No decision has been made yet as to which option will be pursued.”

Students will also attend school on April 7, which was a previously scheduled teacher workday. It will be a full day for elementary students, who otherwise usually have early release on Mondays.

The St. Patrick’s Day snow was one in a series of storms this seemingly never-ending winter. The white stuff — nearly 50 inches of it around here in total so far, according to the National Weather Service — has snarled traffic, canceled school 11 times and generally shut down Northern Virginia for a half-dozen days.

No one is feeling the pinch more than locally owned small businesses, who have seen customers slow — and even disappear.

Emad Ramzy, manager of Enviro Cleaners, a dry cleaner at 11519 Sunset Hills Rd., says on a typical snow day, the day’s receipts fall to about half of what they would be on a regular day.

That’s if the store is even open. The cleaner was closed during the storm on March 3, so that day gets a 100 percent loss in the books.

“Hopefully, when spring comes, we’ll get a lot more customers,” he said.

Jenny Nguyen, manager at Hair and Nails Care, a beauty salon at South Lakes Village Center, said the shop has opened late and closed early several times this season. It has also been closed two of the last three Mondays due to snow.

Usually, regular customers find time to reschedule, she said.

“Sometimes, if it is urgent, like they need services because they are going away, they might go someplace else,” she said. “So you risk that.”

Over at Lake Anne Coffee House, co-owner Susan Sohn said business has been “very bad” this winter.

“On snow days we have almost no business, maybe 2-3 customers,” she said. “But it is not like the bills and taxes stop. I hope winter stops soon.”

Reston Now posed a challenge to residents cooped up after Sunday and Monday’s snow: Capture your thoughts in haiku.

It was a rare snowy St. Patrick’s Day in Reston on Monday, but some residents did not let almost a foot of the white stuff interfere with a festive day.

The good news: Spring officially begins on Thursday.

The bad news: You will have to do some shoveling today.

Northern Virginia was hit with a rare winter storm Sunday night and early Monday. About nine inches of snow fell on Reston.

Here is what you need to know:

• The federal government is closed.
• Fairfax County Government will open at noon Monday.
• Fairfax County Public Schools are closed.
• Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.
• Fairfax County trash and recycling collection in sanitary districts (15 percent of county households) has been cancelled.
• Reston Community Center is closed.
• The National Zoo and most Smithsonian museums are  closed.
• All runways at Reagan National Airport were closed as of 7:15 a.m. Dulles International Airport is open, but experiencing many delays and cancellations. Check with your airline.

Reston Now will update this story with any additional closings and conditions. Have any great snow photos? Email them to [email protected] or tweet us @Restonnow or post on our Facebook page.

Photo: LAMeetsDC via Twitter

Winter’s not over yet.

The season’s last gasp — hopefully — will begin later on Sunday, when a winter storm is expected to hit Northern Virginia, dropping up to six inches of snow by the time St. Patrick’s Day is over on Monday.

The National Weather Service has issued  Winter Storm Warning for Fairfax County and surrounding areas from 7 p.m. Sunday until 2 p.m. Monday.

From the NWS:

TIMING...A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW EARLY THIS EVENING WILL CHANGE 
TO ALL SNOW BY MID EVENING. 
SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT THROUGH 
EARLY AFTERNOON MONDAY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED AFTER 
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING. 

* TEMPERATURES...FALLING INTO THE LOWER 30S BY MID EVENING AND 
THEN DROPPING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20S LATE TONIGHT. HIGHS 
MONDAY IN THE LOWER 30S. 

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH. 

* IMPACTS...ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY. TRAVEL 
WILL BE DANGEROUS...ESPECIALLY TONIGHT THROUGH THE MORNING RUSH 
ON MONDAY.

Reston Now will update this story with any school closings and road conditions.

This snowy winter has had an impact in missed school days for students and missed work days for business owners. It has also greatly impacted the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) snow budget.

VDOT says it will likely exceed its $157 million ($63.7 million for Northern Virginia) snow budget by more than $100 million this season.

However, the agency says it has resources in place from its larger maintenance budget for snow removal, pothole repairs, repaving and other road fixes. 

“Make no mistake, this winter has put a strain on our maintenance budget,” Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said in a statement. “However, we have sufficient resources to ensure our roads are well-kept and we will continue to be good stewards of public funds. This winter has been rough, but we’re committed to delivering a safe and reliable transportation system. “

Last winter, which was not a particularly snowy one, VDOT budgeted $149 million for snow-removal activities and spent $142 million. The agency used the the remaining money for maintenance. Only 12.7 inches of snow fell in Northern Virginia the entire 2012-13 season.

This season, Northern Virginia got about that much in one storm in mid-February. A typical season sees about 22 inches fall around here.

The additional snow removal costs will be paid out of VDOT’s overall maintenance budget, VDOT said. 

From VDOT:

VDOT is looking ahead at where adjustments can be made to the maintenance budget to compensate for those costs.  With safety always first, VDOT is considering the following adjustments:

• Extend completion dates of select paving projects
• Limit use of service contracts (excluding snow removal and pothole patching) and perform needed services with VDOT staff
• Limit overtime (excluding snow operations/safety related activities)
• Delay new equipment purchases

“The safety of motorists and our employees is always the first priority,” said VDOT Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick. “Funds will be spent as necessary for snow removal, incident management and other maintenance needs including pothole patching.”

The snow budget is part of VDOT’s overall $1.8 billion maintenance budget for such expenses as pothole repairs, repaving and other activities. VDOT’s $1.4 billion construction budget will not be impacted by snow removal, pothole repair or other maintenance costs.

With school likely to be in session on Wednesday, Fairfax County Public Schools are asking for some help from area homeowners: If you live near a school, help shovel the walking route so the kids can get there safely.

After the mid-February storm, many Reston residents were among those who complained that children were walking in the street to get to school.

FCPS had its ninth and tenth snow days of the 2013-14 school year Monday and Tuesday, after 3-7 inches fell in most of the county.

Meanwhile, a safe walking route after snow was also a big topic at the Reston Association Board of Directors’ meeting on Thursday.

From FCPS:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

When classes resume, we hope you will keep in mind the thousands of FCPS students who walk to and from school or bus stops each day. Snow and ice-covered sidewalks can make that a treacherous journey. Neither the Virginia Department of Transportation nor the county clears snow and ice from public walkways. In addition, neither the state nor the county has any legal requirement for property owners to clear public walkways. However, while not legally obligated, residents and businesses are asked to help keep walkways safe for the community – we need your help! When possible, please clear snow off the sidewalks in front of or next to your property so that FCPS students can have a safe path to their schools.

Thank you!

Monday’s snow dumped close to seven inches in Reston, according to the National Weather Service.

That has to be some kind of a record, right? No, there actually has been bigger March snowfall before, says the NWS.

Going with measurable snowfall at Dulles International Airport (which actually had an official total of 4.8 inches on Monday), there have been five Marches with more than 10 inches, says the NWS.

March 1978 — 10.3 inches

March 1969 — 10.4 inches

March 1984 — 10.8 inches

March 1999 — 14.6 inches

March 1993 — 15.5 inches (most of it in a single storm).

So with lots of March left, there is chance that March 2014 could step into the top five. However, the latest forecast has none of the white stuff for at least the next week (though record cold will be around Tuesday).

Photo courtesy of Raba Letteri.

It’s Tuesday. It’s March. It’s 1 degree as of 7:26 a.m.

Now that that is out of the way, here is what you need to know:

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed.

The federal government is on a two-hour delay.

The Fairfax County Government is open.

Fairfax County recreation centers and libraries may be affected by the weather. Call before you go.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says roads are still “pretty rough” in some places. Watch out for black ice.

Metrobus is running, but some detours are in effect.

D.C.-area airports are open but there are still many delays and cancellations. Check with your airline.

In better news, IHOP is offering free pancakes today in honor of Fat Tuesday and International Pancake Day. Proceeds will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Help out your Reston neighbors. Tell us about local road conditions in the comments.

Fairfax County public schools will be closed on Tuesday, March 4 as the area continues to dig out from Monday’s snowfall. Offices will be open with an unscheduled leave policy in effect.

This is the tenth snow day this school year, and the FCPS school calendar will likely be extended to June 24 (three extra days), according to the school board.

The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled:

• extracurricular activities
• interscholastic contests
• team practices
• field trips
• middle school after-school programs
• professional learning and training courses
• all adult and community education classes
• recreation programs and community use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS

School Age Child Care (SACC) centers are closed.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has declared a state of emergency, an action that authorizes state agencies to be ready to assist local governments in responding to the snow and ice storm that will affect the commonwealth Monday evening and into Tuesday.

It also serves as a warning for citizens to stay off the roads and travel only if absolutely necessary.

After a cold rain feel through most of Sunday evening, the snow began falling about 3 a.m. and is expected to fall for most of the day. Most businesses and schools in and around Reston are closed.

“This storm could bring difficult travel and widespread power outages for the next few days,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “It is also going to be very cold with gusty winds across Virginia.  Please postpone travel during the storm, charge up your mobile devices so you can stay in touch, and take time to check on your neighbors in case they need help.”

In response to the storm:

• The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is at increased readiness with emergency response team members monitoring the storm and ready to coordinate the state’s response.
• The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is coordinating conference calls between the National Weather Service, state agencies and local governments.
• Virginia Department of Transportation crews have begun full preparations for a significant winter weather event expected to impact the commonwealth Monday.
• The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring up to 100 personnel on state active duty to support emergency response operations. Virginia Guard personnel have been alerted to begin staging and expect to be in place tonight so they are able to rapidly respond if needed.
• The Virginia State Police will extend shifts and have additional troopers on patrol to expedite response times to traffic crashes and disabled motorists.

Virginians should:

• Be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours, in case roads are blocked and/or there are power outages.
• Prepare a three-day supply of food that includes a gallon of water per person per day and food that does not require electricity to prepare it.
• Have a battery powered and/or hand-crank radio and extra batteries for emergency information.  Listen to local weather forecasts and instructions from local officials.
• Always run generators outside in well-ventilated areas.  Never use a portable generator in any enclosed or partially enclosed space.
• Only travel if absolutely necessary.  Roads can become very hazardous very quickly.  Always wear a seatbelt, and know road conditions before you leave.  Road condition information is available 24/7 by calling 511 or going towww.511Virginia.org
• Have emergency supplies in your vehicle.  If you are stranded you will need water, food, blankets, flashlight and extra batteries at a minimum.
• Avoid overexertion while shoveling snow and cleaning up from the storm, no matter your age or physical condition.  Shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.
• If you need help for an elderly or disabled person during the storm, need information on warming shelters or are concerned about an unsheltered individual or family, call 211 or visit www.211virginia.org.  When you call 211, a trained professional will suggest sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in your community and statewide.
• Get winter weather preparedness information at www.ReadyVirginia.gov and download the new Ready Virginia app for iPhones and Android devices.

Photo via Dulles International Airport via Twitter.

The region remains under a Winter Storm Warning through 6 p.m. Monday as the National Weather Service says 6 to 10 inches of snow may fall in Northern Virginia.

The NWS says there will be hazardous travel due to ice and snow on Monday, with power outages possible if ice forms on power lines.

As a result, most things are closed Monday, including:

• Fairfax County Government
• Fairfax County Public Schools
• Federal Government
• Reston Association offices
• Reston Community Center
• Reston YMCA

The Virginia Department of Transportation says drivers should stay off the roads on Monday. VDOT says 4,000 trucks were ready to work as of Sunday night to clear interstates, major roads and neighborhood streets in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties.

Want to know if a plow is heading your way? Input your address at www.vdotplows.org to see the status of plowing in their neighborhood.

Also from VDOT:

• Park in your driveway or on the odd-numbered side of the street to allow plows room to pass.
• When shoveling, leave the last few feet at the curb until the street is plowed, as the truck will push some snow back. Shovel to the right facing the road.
• Chemicals are not used in subdivisions, but crews sand hills, curves and intersections to provide traction. For most storms, one snowplow pass, about eight to ten feet wide, is made.

Photo courtesy of VDOT.

As winter continues its grip on Northern Virginia, snow was on the mind of Reston Association’s Board of Directors on Thursday. Specifically, how to remove it after a big storm.

RA CEO Cate Fulkerson said she has heard from many citizens since more than a foot fell here two weeks ago. While RA is responsible for plowing its 55 miles of paths and RA-owned property, many citizens want to know if there is something the association can do to ensure that walkways and sidewalks are clear, especially near schools.

Many sidewalks were still snow covered days after the storm, causing students to walk or wait for the bus in the street.

“There has been lots of concern and I have gotten lots lots of calls about lack of accessibility,” said Fulkerson. “We take seriously clearing pathways and moving people moving from one part of community to another. We decided it was important to look at what we can do as a community.”

Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova said at this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting that the county will also look at its snow removal policies. Currently, Fairfax has no ordinance that says residents must remove snow from sidewalks near their property.”

RA will undertake three things in the snow removal area:

* Discuss with the county whether RA could use its equipment to plow sidewalks and walkways crucial to connectivity in Reston, particularly near Metro’s Wiehle-Reston East station. This would not be all the “miles and miles of” sidewalks in Reston, says RA Parks and Recreation Director Larry Butler, but rather a series of walkways on streets such as Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue.

RA would not charge the county for the service and it would involve minimal labor, said Butler.

However, there would be legal implications in these good intentions, said RA attorney David Chadwick.

“Virginia is a very strong private property state,” he said. “You cannot do something on someone else’s property without permission. Going on someone’s property can create a legal liability, and that automatically puts you at risk.”

* Try and mobilize citizens to pitch in and shovel the routes near their homes. RA will engage the Pedestrian and Bicycling Advisory Committee (PBAC), the Communications  Advisory Committee and the Neighborhoods Advisory Committee in this effort.

After the record snowfall of February 2010, RA encouraged members to volunteer to shovel, and many of them did, helping clear routes in and around Reston schools.

One caveat: Most homes are not on main streets in Reston, pointed out South Lakes director Richard Chew. No homes are located on Ridge Heights Road, for instance, where sidewalks lead to three schools. Even if you mobilized people to shovel in their own clusters, would that help the school routes?

* Send a letter written by the PBAC to the Northern Regional Park Authority to encourage better plowing and de-icing of the W & OD Trail, which runs through Reston.

“For Reston residents, the W&OD is more than just a recreational facility — it is the backbone of the network of roads and paths that connects Reston to other destinations in the region and makes cycling a viable means of transportation,” the letter states.

Photo: Snow-covered sidewalk on Ridge Heights Road near Terraset Elementary School.