NoVA Winter Storm: Snowfall Disrupts Commute, Closes Schools

VIRGINIA — The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Friday morning for parts of Northern Virginia and the D.C. area, with a total snowfall of 4 to 6 inches expected for Loudoun and Fauquier counties.

Other areas of Northern Virginia, including Alexandria and Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William counties, are under a winter weather advisory, with total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.

Most school systems in Northern Virginia announced closures for Friday due to the snow, including schools in Alexandria and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William counties. County governments and courts in some jurisdictions, including Fairfax County, also shut down for the day.

The Office of Personnel Management said that all federal employees will have a two-hour delayed arrival on Friday, with an option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. Federal offices in the D.C. region will open two hours later than normally scheduled.

Early Friday morning, the NWS upgraded the winter weather advisory to a winter storm warning for Loudoun County and the other areas due to the higher snow potential there.

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"Both rush hours today may have slippery roads, especially the morning one, as snow should be ongoing for much or all of it," The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang reported Friday morning.

Lighter and more intermittent snow will continue into Friday afternoon, adding another inch or two of snow, according to the Capital Weather Gang.

“As snow continues to come down across the region, there will be some lulls in the action before it tapers off this afternoon but some heavier pockets at times as well,” 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff said.

The Arctic air coming in behind the storm over the weekend will likely deliver the lowest temperatures of the winter so far in the mid-Atlantic region, AccuWeather said.

Bitter cold winds are expected to arrive in the D.C. area Friday night and continue all weekend. The winds will average 20 to 30 mph Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

READ ALSO: OPM Changes Operating Status For All Federal Employees In DC Area

Temperatures are forecast to drop to 17 degrees Saturday night, followed by a high of 31 degrees on Sunday and a low of 12 degrees Sunday night.

Looking ahead to next week, temperatures are expected to gradually warm up in Northern Virginia starting on Tuesday, with highs climbing into the high 40s. By Thursday and Friday, temperatures could be in the 50s.

A possible mid- to late-week storm is possible next week, probably in the form of rain.

Here is a look at the forecast for Northern Virginia through early next week from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Snow, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 31. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday night: Snow likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 31. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Tuesday night: A chance of rain after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.