A winter storm bringing snow and strong winds will force schools in Stafford County, Fredericksburg City, and Spotsylvania County to close on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Stafford County Public Schools will be closed, with all 12-month staff operating on a two-hour delay. As a result of this closure, Friday, March 21, 2025, will now be a regular, full instructional day for students to make up for the lost classroom time.
Bitterly cold air is sweeping into the region, but the anticipated snowstorm will largely miss Northern Virginia. Instead, it will track south toward Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, where accumulations are expected to be significant.
According to the National Weather Service, an expansive Arctic high-pressure system is building into the north-central U.S., reinforcing the cold snap. Meanwhile, an area of low pressure developing over the Mississippi River Valley will move toward the Carolinas before heading offshore midweek. As a result, the heaviest snowfall will stay well to the south, sparing much of Northern Virginia, the Washington, D.C. area, and Maryland from significant impacts.
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for much of the region. Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning and persist through Monday, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph in some areas.
The warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, with the strongest gusts anticipated in the afternoon and evening. Wind speeds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph are expected. These high winds could cause downed trees and power lines, leading to widespread power outages. Residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid windows, and secure outdoor objects.
Updated – The National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore-Washington office has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region, warning of heavy snowfall and hazardous travel conditions from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
Snowfall Forecast & Timing
A wintry mix of precipitation is expected, with snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch. The advisory covers the District of Columbia, central Maryland, and central and northern Virginia.
Precipitation will overspread the area Saturday morning, starting as snow. By the afternoon, it will transition to sleet and freezing rain, creating hazardous travel conditions. By the evening, temperatures will rise, changing the precipitation to cold rain, which may help reduce ice accumulation but could leave roads slick.
A winter storm is expected to impact the region starting Wednesday evening, bringing the potential for significant ice accumulation in some areas. The National Weather Service has issued an Ice Storm Warning for parts of the Potomac Highlands, Northern Shenandoah Valley, and Northern Virginia Blue Ridge.
Prince William County is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 9 p.m. Wednesday to Noon Thursday. Stafford County is currently not under any advisory.
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.”
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
