Prince William County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins issued this statement this afternoon about the impending snowstorm:
We have been in contact with the Weather Service this afternoon and they have put some snow totals in the forecast so we can refine our planning process for this storm. A small system will move through tonight causing some snow between a coating to an inch. People traveling in the latter stages of rush hour and in the early evening hours tonight should exercise caution.
This weekend we expect snow starting between 12 and 4pm on Friday. Once it starts snowing it will be heavy from the onset. From Friday until Saturday evening NWS is forecasting 20-22 inches of snow and then Saturday night another 6-12 hours of more snow. The forecaster said we are possibly looking at 2-3 feet when it is all over with Sunday particularly on the west end of the County. Closer to I-95 we could also see a period of sleet on Saturday then turning back to all snow. We could have some windy conditions, however, predictions show higher winds to our east.
The NWS has issued a Winter Weather Advisory today until Midnight tonight then a Blizzard Watch Friday from noon to Sunday morning at 6am. Emergency Management will be staffing the EOC at a Monitoring level starting Friday morning and will continue to monitor the storm and send out updates as needed. ESF-2, 3, 4, 8, 13, and 15 are asked to remain on standby throughout the storm with staffing plans ready to report to the EOC if needed. An event has been created in WebEOC (“PWC 1/22 Snowstorm”) and Everbridge will be used to notify further activation of the EOC based on the event. An email with instructions on WebEOC and Everbridge will be forthcoming.
We’ve got the following winter weather notices for tonight, Wednesday, January 20, 2016:
PWCS/community evening activities cancelled as of 6:30 p.m. due to predictions of below freezing temps & clipper system passing through area
— PWCS (@PWCSNews) January 20, 2016
PARK ALERT: Park managers will close Scenic Drive on Wednesday night. It may re-open Thursday morning if conditions permit.
— Pr. Wm. Forest Park (@PWForestPark) January 20, 2016
