Phil was welcomed with chants of “Phil, Phil, Phil,” and pulled from a hatch on his tree stump shortly after sunrise before a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club read from a scroll in which he boasted: “Only I know — you can’t trust A.I.”
Weather
Get ready for a windy Wednesday across the region, as conditions are expected to be quite blustery throughout the day. The National Weather Service is forecasting a more widespread wind event, with gusts reaching between 40-50 mph in most areas, except for parts of central Virginia and southern Maryland.
Wind Advisory in Effect
Arctic high pressure continues to grip the region, keeping dangerously cold temperatures and bitter wind chills in place through Thursday morning. The National Weather Service warns that these frigid conditions will persist, with temperatures struggling to climb above freezing during the day and plummeting overnight.
Wednesday and Beyond
Get ready for some of the coldest weather this winter as Arctic air grips our area. Wind chills are expected to plunge to dangerous levels, prompting the region’s advisories.
What to Expect
If you’re planning to attend outdoor festivities or events this Inauguration Day, bundle up! The National Weather Service has issued a frigid forecast for the day, with Arctic air making its presence known across the region.
The day will start mostly sunny but bitterly cold, with high temperatures struggling to reach 27 degrees. Adding to the chill, northwest winds of 13 to 18 mph will bring gusts up to 30 mph, creating wind chills in the single digits to teens east of the mountains and well below zero in higher elevations.
The National Weather Service warns of wintry weather this weekend, with light snow or a wintry mix possible late Friday into Saturday morning. Precipitation should turn to rain by midday Saturday, but models show varying chances for light snowfall on Sunday, particularly in western areas.
A powerful Arctic air mass will arrive Sunday night, bringing the coldest temperatures in five years. Highs on Monday, Inauguration Day, will struggle to reach the teens and low 20s, with wind chills dropping to -15°F in the mountains and near 0°F elsewhere. Bitter cold will persist through Wednesday, with overnight lows below zero in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
Here’s the latest on school closures and delays across the region:
Free meals will be provided to all Stafford students aged 18 and under at the following locations:
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Several schools in our region have announced closures and delays for Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to icy road conditions and inclement weather. Here is the latest list of updates:
Prince William County Public Schools
The Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) will close all its locations early at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, citing icy road conditions that make travel hazardous. This decision follows a two-day closure of all CRRL locations earlier this week due to heavy snowfall that blanketed the region.
The library system made the announcement at midday on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of staff and patrons.
Prince William County government offices and facilities will be open on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Still, employees can take unscheduled leave or engage in unscheduled telework due to current weather conditions.
While the county remains open for business, residents are encouraged to check for the latest updates on facility-specific operations by visiting pwcva.gov/emergency.