NoVA, DC Weather: Winter Storm Creates Unsafe Road Conditions

VIRGINIA/DC — A winter storm is bringing a mixture of sleet and snow across the Washington, D.C., region Thursday, with the storm forecast to remain in the area through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Northern Virginia and D.C. are right along the snow-sleet-freezing rain transition point, with parts of the region to the west receiving more snow than areas close to or inside the Beltway.

Virginia State Police responded to 270 traffic crashes and 165 disabled vehicles from midnight through 11 a.m. Thursday, mostly related to the hazardous driving conditions due to the winter storm.

Shortly after 4 a.m., the storm moved into the area, bringing sleet to most areas inside or close to the Beltway. Around 8 a.m., the storm picked up strength with sleet coming down at moderate to heavy intensity.

Leesburg and other areas to the west were forecast to see snow early Thursday morning but instead received a solid layer of sleet by 6 a.m. Around 7 a.m., the sleet had changed to snow in the western regions of the area.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is urging residents to stay off the roads. "Give us time and space to do our jobs safely," the department said.

The Virginia State Police said the majority of the crashes to which it responded involved only damage to vehicles. There have been no reported traffic fatalities from midnight to 11 a.m. Thursday.

The Fairfax Division of the state police, which has jurisdiction over most of Northern Virginia, reported 27 disabled vehicles and 47 traffic crashes from midnight through 11 a.m. Thursday.

Even as the intensity of the storm weakens, the state police are advising residents to avoid travel in the region into Friday morning. "Open highways allow VDOT crews to safely and effectively treat the roads," the state police said.

Schools across the region closed in-person operations due to the storm. Most school systems in Northern Virginia also canceled virtual learning for Thursday. In the District, school buildings are closed, but virtual learning is scheduled for Thursday.

Government offices across most of Northern Virginia are closed, although virtual operations remain open to the public. Teleworkers in Fairfax County are scheduled to report to duty.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for the next couple days in the Washington, D.C., region:

Thursday: Freezing rain, possibly mixed with snow and sleet. High near 30. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday night: Freezing rain, possibly mixed with snow and sleet before 7 p.m., then freezing rain likely, possibly mixed with snow. Low around 28. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: A chance of snow before noon, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Wind gusts as high as 22 mph.