Winter Storm Update: Snowfall Totals, Crashes In NoVA, DC

WASHINGTON, DC—Residents in DC and Northern Virginia woke up Wednesday to snow that will change into mixed precipitation as the morning goes on. Much of the region was under a winter storm warning through Wednesday as forecasters called for snow, ice and freezing rain. The National Weather Service said areas west and north of DC could see the highest snow and ice amounts.

The Virginia Department of Transportation urged drivers to stay off the roads, as heavy snow can limit visibility and freezing rain can make roads slick. VDOT crews are stationed throughout the region and will treat and plow as snow and mixed precipitation accumulates. Interstates and primary routes are the first priority, followed by lesser-traveled routes and neighborhood streets. Check the status of plowing at vdotplows.org.

From midnight to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Virginia Police responded to 477 traffic crashes and 318 disabled vehicles. Few of the crashes resulted in injuries.

As of 3:45 p.m., 43 additional crashes and 11 disabled vehicles are active. State police is responding to a fatal crash in Lee County, but it's unclear if the crash is weather related.

In all, 114 of the crashes and 111 disabled vehicles happened in state police's Fairfax division. Police urge drivers who must travel to clear all snow and ice from their vehicles, use headlights and slow down to match the conditions. Visit www.511virginia.org to check traffic conditions in real time.

The Office of Personnel Management closed federal agencies in the Washington, D.C., metro on Wednesday and urged federal employees who are eligible to telework. Many local government offices and school districts also opted to close.

Early snowfall totals indicate areas west and north of the Beltway are seeing more accumulation. Below are preliminary snowfall totals from National Weather Service staff and trained spotters as of 2:43 p.m.

District of Columbia

• Washington, DC: National Zoo 1 WSW 0.3 inches

Virginia

• Arlington County: Reagan National Apt - 2.6 inches
• Arlington County: Ballston 1 SW - 3.9 inches
• Alexandria: Alexandria 1 W - 2.7 inches
• Fairfax City: Fairfax 1 ESE - 2.8 inches
• Fairfax County: Burke 2 NW - 3.8 inches
• Fairfax County: Chantilly 3 N - 2.0 inches
• Fairfax County: Franconia 1 SSW - 3.3 inches
• Fairfax County: Herndon 2 ENE - 4.8 inches
• Fairfax County: Merrifield 1 SE - 4.5 inches
• Fairfax County: Reston 2 N - 4.9 inches
• Fairfax County: Vienna - 4.2 inches
• Falls Church: Falls Church - SE 3.2 inches
• Fauquier County: Broken Hill 2 E - 3.3 inches
• Frederick County: Winchester ENE - 8 inches
• Loudoun County: Dulles International - 4.7 inches
• Loudoun County: Leesburg 2 E - 5.0 inches
• Loudoun County: Lovettsville 2 ENE - 6.2 inches

The National Weather Service issued the following winter storm warnings:

3 to 6 inches of snow and up to a quarter inch or ice through 7 p.m. Wednesday: District of Columbia, Madison County, Orange County, Culpeper County, Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria-Southern Fauquier County and Eastern Loudoun County.

4 to 8 inches of snow and up to one-tenth inch of ice through 1 a.m. Thursday: Shenandoah County, Frederick County, Page County, Warren County, Clarke County, Rappahannock County, Northern Fauquier County and Western Loudoun County.

By the middle of the day, snow should turn into sleet, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang predicts. Freezing rain may appear in the afternoon or evening, particularly north and west of the Beltway. Once temperatures climb above freezing in the evening, rain should take over. The combined snow, sleet and freezing rain could cause isolated power outages, says the National Weather Service.

Here's the National Weather Service forecast for the coming days in DC.

Wednesday: Snow and sleet before 1 p.m., then sleet between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then rain or freezing rain after 4 p.m. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 34. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Total daytime ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday night: Rain or freezing rain, becoming all rain after 7pm. Low around 34. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Thursday: Rain likely before 7 a.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Cloudy, with a high near 47.

Saturday: Rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

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