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

Temperatures on Wednesday will remain well below freezing, with daytime highs only reaching the teens and lower 20s. Wind chills will remain a significant concern, with values ranging from -10°F to -25°F in many areas.

By Wednesday night, winds will ease slightly as high pressure drifts overhead, but temperatures will still drop to the single digits in many areas, with subzero readings likely in higher elevations.

On Thursday, temperatures will begin to moderate slightly, with highs climbing above freezing for much of the lower terrain. However, the early morning hours will remain frigid, so caution is still advised.

Warming Shelters Open

Several warming shelters are available to help residents stay safe during the cold:

Town of Dumfries Comfort Station

• Location: Jeff Simpson Community Center, 1775 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026
• Dates & Times:
  • January 21, 2025: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • January 25, 2025: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Prince William County Hypothermia Shelters

StreetLight Ministries (Eastern Prince William County)

• Location: Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, 14716 Potomac Mills Rd., Woodbridge, VA 22192
• Hours: Open nightly, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.
• Contact: [email protected] or 703-227-7140

Manassas Baptist Church (Western Prince William County)

• Location: 8730 Sudley Rd., Manassas, VA 20110
• Hours:
  • Monday – Sunday, 7:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.
  • Wednesdays: 8:30 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.
• Contact: 571-277-0728

Manassas Park Warming Centers

• Manassas Park Community Center: 99 Adams Street, Manassas Park, VA
• Manassas Park City Library: 100 Park Central Plaza, Manassas Park, VA
  These facilities provide short-term relief from the cold. Check their respective websites for operating hours.

Protecting Your Home: What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

With temperatures plunging, water pipes in homes across the region are at risk of freezing. Here’s what to do if you encounter frozen pipes:

• Turn on the nearest cold water faucet to relieve pressure caused by ice expanding in the pipes.
• Gradually thaw frozen pipes by wrapping towels soaked in warm water around them.
• Do not use a blow torch, hair dryer, or any direct heat source, as these can cause pipes to crack.
• For water or sewer emergencies, if served by Prince William Water, contact Prince William Water Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7982.

Stay Safe

Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, bundle up, and check on neighbors and vulnerable populations. Potomac Local News will provide updates as the situation develops.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Here’s the latest on school closures and delays across the region:

Prince William County
Prince William County Schools (PWCS) will start two hours late on Friday, January 10. All bus routes will also be adjusted by two hours. Parents are encouraged to check with their school for specific bell times and use the Here Comes the Bus app for bus arrival updates. Due to an expected increase in drop-offs, families are asked to be patient with staff and plan for additional time during arrival.

Stafford County
Stafford County Schools will be closed for students on Friday, January 10. All activities and events scheduled for Friday and Saturday are canceled.

• Emergency personnel are expected to report on time.
• 12-month employees will report at 10 a.m. with liberal leave authorized.
• Licensed employees will have a workday starting at 10 a.m.

Free meals will be provided to all Stafford students aged 18 and under at the following locations:

• Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School
• Rocky Run Elementary School
• Edward E. Drew Middle School

Meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include take-home breakfasts. Students are welcome regardless of meal eligibility status.

Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg City Public Schools will be closed on Friday, January 10.

• Essential personnel should report at 8 a.m.
• 12-month employees report at 10 a.m.
• Teachers and certificated employees (excluding 12-month employees) will have a flexible workday, either working remotely or at school starting at 10 a.m.

Manassas Park
All Manassas Park City Schools will open two hours late on Friday, January 10.

Spotsylvania County
Friday, January 10, will be a Teacher Work Day for Spotsylvania County Public Schools. No students will report to school, and all student after-school activities are canceled.

King George County
King George County Schools will be closed Friday, January 10, due to adverse road conditions and inclement weather.

• 12-month employees will operate under Code 2 with a report time of 10 a.m.

Fairfax County
All Fairfax County public schools and school offices will open two hours late on Friday, January 10.

• Central offices will open at 10 a.m.
• SACC centers will open at 8 a.m.

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

On Thursday, January 9, all Prince William County Public Schools will be closed for students and teachers.

– All 250-day employees and all pay grade 13 and above report at 10 a.m.

Stafford County Public Schools

Schools will be closed for students on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

– Emergency personnel will report on time.

– All 12-month employees will report to work at 10 a.m. If you are unable to report to work safely, liberal leave is authorized.

– Thursday, January 9 will serve as a workday for all licensed employees beginning at 10 a.m. While buildings will be open to enable maintenance crews to clear any remaining snow and ice, telework is permitted and encouraged where duties allow.

Manassas City Public Schools

Manassas City Public Schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to hazardous road conditions.
– Code BLUE for employees.

Manassas Park City Schools

Schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to icy conditions.
– Code RED for employees.

Fairfax County Public Schools
All Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
– School offices and central offices will open to the public at 10 a.m.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools

Fredericksburg City Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

• Essential workers should report at 8 a.m.
• 12-month employees should report at 10 a.m.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools

Spotsylvania County Public Schools are closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to icy road conditions.

• Code 2: 12-month employees report two hours late as safety permits.
• Essential personnel will report at specified times.
• All school-sponsored activities and student externships are canceled

King George County Public Schools

King George County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to adverse road conditions and inclement weather.

• Code 2: 12-month employees report at 10 a.m.
• Liberal leave will be in effect.

We’ll update this post with additional school closures and delays as they are announced.

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.

CRRL serves a broad region, including the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Westmoreland. With 10 branches and a robust online resource platform, the library offers services ranging from book lending and computer access to educational programs for all ages. The early closure will impact planned events and services scheduled for Wednesday evening. Patrons are encouraged to use the library’s extensive online catalog and digital resources during the closure.

The winter storm that prompted these closures brought significant disruptions across the area, impacting schools, businesses, and local government operations. Library staff have worked to ensure buildings are safe and accessible during this challenging weather. However, today’s icy conditions pose continued challenges for travel in the region.

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.

Some county services may be impacted by the weather. Before visiting a county facility, call ahead or check the county’s website.

Several schools in our region have announced closures and delays for Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions. Here is the full list of updates:

Prince William County:
All Prince William County Public Schools will be closed under Code Green for students and teachers.
– 250-day employees and pay grade 13 and above report at 10 a.m.
– The closure will allow VDOT additional time to clear secondary and neighborhood roads to ensure bus safety.

Stafford County:
Stafford County Public Schools are closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to ongoing adverse weather conditions.
– All activities and events scheduled are canceled.

Manassas City:
Manassas City Schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
– Code BLUE for employees.

Manassas Park:
All Manassas Park schools are closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to remaining snow and ice.

Spotsylvania County:
Spotsylvania County Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
– Code 2: 12-month employees report two hours late as safety permits.
– Essential personnel should report at specified times.
– All school-sponsored activities, including student externships, are canceled.

Fredericksburg City:
Fredericksburg City Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to road conditions and low temperatures.
– Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until the afternoon.

Fairfax County:
All Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
– School offices and central offices will open to the public at 11 a.m.

King George County:
King George County Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather conditions.
– Code 2: 12-month employees report at 10 a.m.
– Liberal leave will be in effect.

Colleges and Universities:

– Germanna Community College:
All Germanna locations will open at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, due to challenging road conditions.

– Northern Virginia Community College:
Normal operations under Code Green for Wednesday, January 8, 2025. All campuses and services are open.