2 p.m.
The winter storm headed our way is taking shape, and it’s not coming together how many snow lovers had hoped.
The National Weather Service downgraded Prince William and Stafford counties – placing Stafford under a winter weather advisory, and has now said Prince William has little if any chance of seeing wintry precipitation from this system.
Forecasters at the weather service said one to three inches of snow are possible for Stafford County, while in Prince William about an inch is possible.
Despite the changing forecast, calls were made earlier in the day to cancel some activities in Stafford .
Stafford County Public Schools have canceled all evening activities:
All Stafford County Public School evening activities beginning after 5 p.m. today (January 17) are canceled. This includes all advisory committee meetings, textbook committee meetings, the County Spelling Bee and all evening events at all schools.
There will be no activity or tutoring buses from any school.
Decisions regarding Friday’s schedule (cancellation, delay, activities) will be determined at a later time.
Other cancellations this evening:
Stafford County Parks and Recreation Commission meeting
Stafford Citizens Academy meeting
The Rowser Building and the Stafford Gymnastics and Recreation Center will be closing at 4:00 PM. All evening programs have been cancelled at these facilities.
7 a.m.
There have been changes to the warnings and advisories attached to today’s forecasted winter storm.
Stafford County has been upgraded and placed under a winter storm warning, where in that county and places south and west could see three to five inches of snow, the National Weather Service states.
Expect higher accumulation totals toward Richmond and Roanoke.
Prince William County has been downgraded to a winter weather advisory where one to three inches of snow could fall today.
Uncharacteristic of other winter storms, western Maryland could see very little from this storm as the majority of the snow will fall to the south, according to the weather service.
5:50 p.m.
Virginia Railway Express will operate full service Thursday:
As you may or may not know, winter weather is expected to hit our area beginning tomorrow afternoon. VRE still plans operating its normal schedule tomorrow, but may move the bigger trainsets to operate earlier afternoon trains if we think passengers plan to leave work early tomorrow.
We will make a decision about Friday’s service closer to that time, but will make an announcement no later than 4:30am that morning if we decide to alter service.
5:30 p.m.
The federal government is open Thursday, but workers can take unscheduled leave:
From the Office of Personnel Management:
The following message applies only to Thursday, January 17, 2013. Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN and employees have the OPTION for UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK.
4 p.m.
The local weather people say there is some uncertainty with Thursday’s snowfall forecast. We do know rain will be an issue for the morning, and the wet precipitation could mix with the frozen stuff. But after noon, all bets are off.
Here’s what we do know, as snow lovers in Prince William and Stafford counties marvel at a chance for the season’s first measureable snowfall:
-Winter storm watch in effect for Prince William, Stafford, and surrounding counties from early Thursday morning to late into the evening, states the National Weather Service:
* PRECIPITATION TYPE…SNOW…POSSIBLY HEAVY AT TIMES.
* ACCUMULATIONS…IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES POSSIBLE.
* TIMING…SNOW MAY MIX WITH RAIN AT THE ONSET…ESPECIALLY
SOUTH OF WASHINGTON DC THURSDAY MORNING…BEFORE CHANGING TO
ALL SNOW LATE THURSDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL END
THURSDAY NIGHT. SNOW MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* TEMPERATURES…LOWER 30S.
* WINDS…NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.
* IMPACTS…ROADS MAY BECOME SNOW COVERED…ESPECIALLY DURING
THE EVENING RUSH HOUR.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR
THE LATEST FORECASTS.
-More snow expected to fall the further south and west you are
-Rain mixes with snow early morning to about noon, then all snow after noon with 3 to 5 inches possible
-Snow continues into evening, possibly another 1 to 2 inches
-Daytime temperatures hovering in the mid to upper 30s, nighttime temps should be in the mid 20s
-We have not heard from Virginia Department of Transportation regional offices in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg on how they’re planning for the potential for snow
7:30 a.m.
Snow is in the forecast for Thursday – one to three inches of the white stuff could fall across the region.
The National Weather Service says Thursday morning will see rain, but then we should expect a changeover to snow sometime after 1 p.m. The snow will last into the evening, and skies should clear about 1 a.m.
Temperatures should be in the mid to upper 30s Thursday with lows in the upper 20s Thursday night. The frozen precipitation forecast comes after days of gray skies and rain have fallen across the area, and after a bust of a weekend forecast that called for mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s actually meant cloudy skies and temps more like the low to mid 50s.
Today, rain is slated to hang around the area until about noon and then you can expect clearing skies, according to the weather service. On Friday – after the snow is supposed to have gotten out of here – expect sunny skies with highs in the upper 30s. Saturday and Sunday will also be sunny with highs in the mid to upper 40s.
