More
Post Content

Poll: Should Alexandria City Public Schools keep snow days?

A woman stands in the snow with a shovel in Arlandria, Jan. 3, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the advent of virtual learning in public schools during the Covid pandemic, it seemed like snow days would become a thing of the past.

In late 2021, Alexandria said remote learning would replace in-person classes during what, in the past, would have been a day away from school for children.

A bill was proposed in the Virginia House of Delegates earlier this year to make remote learning a mandatory substitute for snow days, though the bill died in the House Committee on Education.

Now, some localities are starting to reconsider that push to replace snow days with virtual learning.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) announced earlier this year that the school district would restore snow days and end the use of virtual learning.

“This adjustment aims to maximize in-person learning and to ensure equitable access to instruction and student services for all students,” FCPS said in a press release.

Alexandria City Public Schools’ website says, if there are sufficient calendar days, the school division will consider designating the day “as an actual snow day for all students and staff.”

12 Comments

Alexandria making a snow plow ‘dry run’ around the city today

A snow plow on King Street in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s not a speck of snow on the forecast, but Alexandrians might see snow plows making the rounds across the city today.

The city’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) is doing a practice run today for potential wintery conditions.

“If you see snow plows on Alexandria streets on November 13, they are not responding to an actual snowstorm but are instead practicing their routes and equipment readiness,” the city said in a release.

According to the release:

Test runs are an essential part of the City’s winter preparedness strategy; they help T&ES, and other City agencies involved in winter weather response, to respond promptly and effectively to keep our streets clear and our community safe when a snow event does occur.

Such drills give snow plow operators the opportunity to refamiliarize themselves with equipment, routes, and safety procedures to enhance their efficiency when responding to snow and ice events. The dry runs also allow T&ES to identify and address any maintenance or operational issues with our snow plows, ensuring they are in peak condition when winter weather arrives.

As always, T&ES encourages everyone to exercise caution when encountering snow plows on City streets. Even when there isn’t snow and ice on the ground, we ask residents to please give snow plows space to safely maneuver.

Weather experts are predicting a potential winter wonderland this year, with estimates of up to six or seven inches of snow, Washingtonian reported.

9 Comments

Notes: New bill could kill snow days in Virginia for good

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

🌥 Today’s weather: Overcast throughout the day. High of 45 and low of 34.
⛅ Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 45 and low of 34. Sunrise at 7:28 am and sunset at 5:06 pm.

🚨 You need to know

A new bill could mean the end of snow days for Virginia public schools.

Currently, during severe weather conditions, schools have the option to switch to remote learning. House Bill 1666, pre-filed yesterday by Del. Danny Marshall (R-Danville) would change that to a requirement rather than an option: school divisions must declare unscheduled remote learning days to provide instruction and student services.

The school divisions are also not allowed to claim more than 10 unscheduled remote learning days per year without an extension granted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

While snow days are forever popular among students and teachers, the change is likely spurred on by concerns about learning loss in Virginia students over the last few years. Before disheartened teachers and students start shaking their fists at the state legislature, it’s worth noting that Alexandria City Public Schools had already started moving in that direction.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Jan 9, 2023.

  1. Notes: Popular D.C. brewery opening new location in the Carlyle neighborhood (604 views)
  2. Saving herself: Alexandria author kidnapped by Somali pirates to publish second book (529 views)
  3. Poll: Should Alexandria implement more ‘no turn on red’ restrictions? (399 views)
  4. ‘The most blighted property in the West End’ gets redevelopment recommendation from Planning Commission (318 views)

🗞 Other local coverage

🐦 Tweets of note

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
6 Comments

VDOT: Consider holiday travel today, storms inbound on Thursday and Friday

A snow plow drives down Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, Jan. 3, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) says drivers heading out for the holidays should consider starting a little early, with heavy storms likely to affect travel over the next few days.

In an alert, VDOT said today is the best day to travel, given the forecast.

“Drivers should expect roads to be impacted Thursday and Friday,” VDOT said. “Today will be the best day for holiday travel. Adjust travel plans and avoid all nonessential travel during the height of the storm. This helps to avoid deteriorating conditions and to allow crews room to work.”

VDOT said crews are already pretreating and brining roads, with trucks deployed early Thursday morning to treat roads as needed.

According to the release:

Please continue to monitor forecasts closely as forecasts can improve or worsen quickly. The National Weather Service forecast shows winter weather will impact the region from overnight Wednesday through Friday. The forecast shows the potential for periods of freezing rain and sleet, as well as below-freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and high winds. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for western Loudoun County starting at 4 a.m. Thursday.

Additionally, the National Weather Service has issued an areal flood watch for Alexandria, advising locals not to drive through water on roadways and to avoid small streams.

2 Comments

Snow starts falling in Alexandria before Friday commute

Snow started falling at around 2:45 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 28) in Alexandria, as the city remains under a Winter Weather Advisory until 4 a.m. Saturday.

The National Weather Service says that the snow could lead to slippery road conditions for the evening commute. One inch of snow is expected.

“The steadiest snow is expected late this afternoon through this evening,” NWS said in the advisory. “Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute.”

Temperatures are expected to fall to 23 degrees this evening.

0 Comments

JUST IN: Alexandria City Public Schools will be virtual Thursday due to snow in forecast

Alexandria City Public Schools will provide synchronous, virtual learning Thursday after a Winter Weather Advisory warned there may be 2 to 3 inches of snow in the morning.

Class times will include live instruction through Zoom and independent work. All essential personnel must still report to schools, if it is safe to do so.

ACPS advised parents to check students’ Canvas or Clever account no later than 8 a.m. Thursday for specifics about their schedule.

ACPS has implemented virtual instruction for some inclement weather days this year, possibly making snow days a thing of the past. Fairfax County Public Schools similarly announced it would go virtual Thursday as well. And in Arlington, a full school closure was announced for tomorrow, using its last traditional allotted snow day.

3 Comments

Winter Weather Advisory issued for region ahead of Thursday snow

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Alexandria and its neighbors ahead of snow expected tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

The advisory is set for 6 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday morning, with the city expected to get two-three inches of snow in the morning with a chance for more in the afternoon.

If it does snow, it will be the third snow of the year for Alexandria. The city received a fairly light dusting this past weekend that followed a severe snowstorm earlier this month.

See the full advisory below:

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 1 PM EST
THURSDAY…

* WHAT…Snow. Snow accumulations of up to two inches with locally
higher amounts around three inches possible.

* WHERE…The District of Columbia, portions of central, northern
and southern Maryland, and central and northern Virginia.

* WHEN…From 6 AM to 1 PM EST Thursday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
conditions will impact the morning commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Precipitation will start as rain and then
switch over to snow during the Thursday morning commute.
Instructions: Slow down and use caution while traveling. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Target Area:
Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria
Fairfax
Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park
Southern Fauquier
Spotsylvania
Stafford

0 Comments

Local roads pretreated as snow starts to fall in Alexandria

Trucks prepared for pretreatment efforts, photo via Alexandria T&ES/Twitter

Nearly a fortnight after a snowstorm shut down Alexandria, the city’s emergency services finished pretreating local roads just before the snow started to fall.

“In advance of the storm, T&ES completed pretreatment of roads and snow response operations were deployed at 7:00 a.m.,” Alexandria Transportation and Environmental Services said on Twitter. “Snow response operates for 24 hours through the duration of winter weather events and staff will continue to monitor the weather conditions as the event ensues.”

Locals are already reporting that the snow is starting to stick.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Alexandria and the immediate D.C. area.

From the National Weather Service:

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST MONDAY…

* WHAT…Mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE…Portions of The District of Columbia, central, north central, northeast and northern Maryland and northern Virginia.

* WHEN…From 1 PM this afternoon to 1 AM EST Monday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.

0 Comments

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

The big story this week was snow.

A snowstorm on Monday had the city working at clearing roads and putting weather-affected services back into play. There was a smaller dusting of snow last night, though it didn’t have nearly the same level of impact.

Alexandria City Public Schools went virtual for the first three days of the week as well. Thursday was closed for students as a teacher workday, and both teachers and staff had today off.

Of course, Alexandria wasn’t alone in dealing with the snowstorm: similar operations were underway this week in Arlington and Fairfax.

Top Stories:

  1. Comcast working on fixing widespread internet service outages caused by fire and snowstorm
  2. JUST IN: Officials investigate fire at Jordan Street 7-Eleven
  3. PHOTOS: Scenes from today’s snowstorm in Alexandria
  4. Winter Weather Advisory issued ahead of Thursday night snow
  5. Power outage hits North Ridge neighborhood as weather topples trees and power lines
  6. DEVELOPING: Winter weather conditions shut down city services and some streets
  7. ACPS cancels school in Alexandria for students, but staff will have a virtual workday
  8. School closed tomorrow as students and staff both get proper snow day
  9. ACPS goes to virtual schooling Monday ahead of expected snow
  10. Alexandria Restaurant Week returns this month with new dining options
0 Comments

City suspends trash and recycling collection this week due to snow and COVID

Trash and recycling collection has been suspended for the rest of the week as the city prepares for potential snow tonight just days after Monday’s snowstorm.

The city has previously said trash collection days would operate a day or two behind schedule, but a press release from the City of Alexandria today noted that the city is dealing with a perfect storm of issues hindering trash-recovery operations.

“Due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19, safety issues related to the forecasted overnight snow and to prioritize resources to prepare for and respond to the inclement weather, curbside recycling, trash, yard waste and Christmas tree collection will not take place this week,” the city said in the release. “There will be no sliding of routes and days as previously communicated. Collection crews will be mobilized tonight and tomorrow to support and respond to the forecasted snow tomorrow.”

The city asked that residents hold their trash until collection resumes next week, but for urgent disposals, the city said residents can drop off small amounts of trash free-of-charge at the COVANTA Waste-to-Energy Facility (5301 Eisenhower Ave.) Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 6 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The city noted those hours could change based on weather conditions.

“City crews continue to respond to tree and brush damage due to Monday’s storm,” the release said. “The City has added arborist contractor resources and is adding bulk yard waste collection resources to assist in the collection of tree and brush. City refuse collection customers who need tree and brush collection will be able to submit a request via Alex311. Items must be properly prepared for collection to be picked up by City crews.”

2 Comment
View More Stories
×

Subscribe to our mailing list