Winter Storm In NoVA Delays Schools, Hampers Travel: Latest Snow Totals, Timing

A winter storm moved over Northern Virginia on Friday, prompting schools to delay or cancel and causing a treacherous morning commute for drivers.

The D.C. and Baltimore metros were on the northern edge of a storm system sliding by to the south late Thursday night into Friday morning, forecasters said. Earlier Friday morning, light snow spread eastward across the region, especially along and south of Interstate 66, according to the National Weather Service.

While winter weather advisories were canceled in some counties, several alerts remain in place. An advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. for Fairfax, Arlington, Stafford, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Charles, St. Mary's, Calvert, King George, and Fauquier counties, as well as the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

"Given temperatures will be in the 20s, snow is expected to accumulate on all untreated surfaces. A light snow will overspread the advisory area, with slightly higher amounts possible in any banding features," the National Weather Service wrote. "As snow winds down, a light freezing drizzle is possible into the afternoon."

For snowfall totals, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang is predicting anywhere from just flurries toward northern Maryland to as much as 1 to 2 inches of snow in Southern Maryland and Stafford County, Virginia. Around 1 inch is the most likely amount in the Beltway region.

"As for timing, the light snow should spread into the region from southwest to northeast around 2 to 6 a.m., perhaps remaining just flurries toward northern Maryland, before exiting west to east around 10 a.m. to 1 p.m," the Capital Weather Gang wrote.

As of 9:30 a.m., several Virginia school districts had delayed classes, while some had canceled:

• Alexandria City Public Schools: Two-hour delay
• Arlington Public Schools: Two-hour delay
• Calvert County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
• Culpeper County Public Schools: Closed; essential personnel and custodians to report at noon.
• Fairfax County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
• Falls Church City Public Schools: Two-hour delay
• Fauquier County Public Schools: Closed; essential personnel to report at 11 a.m. and administrative offices open at noon.
• Loudoun County Public Schools: Closed; two-hour delay for administrative offices.
• Manassas City Public Schools: Closed; Code Blue for employees
• Prince William County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
• Spotsylvania County Public Schools: Closed; essential personnel report for emergency services as necessary
• Stafford County Public Schools: Closed

A ground stop at Reagan National Airport was issued earlier but has since been lifted; however, the Federal Aviation Administration is reporting an average delay of 42 minutes due to snow and ice.

Here's a look at the detailed forecast through the weekend for Northern Virginia:

Friday: Snow likely, mainly before 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday Night: Patchy fog before 7pm, then patchy fog after 8pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Light and variable wind.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Light southwest wind.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the evening.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.