A drought watch with a call for voluntary water conservation has been issued for the D.C. region today (June 3).
The Metropolitan Council of Governments Drought Coordination Committee recommended the drought watch, which increases coordination, communications and monitoring of the water supply. Precipitation, groundwater levels, streamflow and reservoir levels are factors in COG’s decision to declare a drought watch.
Alexandrians starting their gardening and other yard work may want to take precautions throughout the day and overnight.
The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning from midnight to 9 a.m. Wednesday in Alexandria and surrounding areas. Forecasters say frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Alexandria spent $9.7 million on the Jan. 25 snow storm response, the bulk of which was attributed to outside contractors brought in due to the challenges of clearing “snowcrete.”
The winter storm brought about 8 inches of snow followed by hours of sleet and freezing rain that created a solid layer of ice on top. According to an after-action report presented to City Council Tuesday, contract services cost the city $8.4 million. City labor cost about $600,000, while materials, supplies, food and lodging for employees cost $700,000.
Alexandria and the rest of the D.C. region braced for severe thunderstorms today (Monday), but the tornado threat has declined. The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado watch for Alexandria as of 3:29 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center now expects a slight to enhanced risk level from storms in the region. That’s down from the moderate risk level predicted earlier.
Alexandria City Public Schools will change up its schedule today (Monday) ahead of potential severe weather, including thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.
ACPS will dismiss students two hours early, and all afternoon and evening classes are canceled. The change comes after several regional school systems made their early dismissal decisions on Sunday.
After several days of warmer temperatures, Alexandria is experiencing weather whiplash as snow falls today (Thursday).
Rain has turned to a mix of snow and rain in the early afternoon. The National Weather Service says the brief snowfall could become heavy at times.
Snowfall has started in Northern Virginia, with about an inch or less of accumulation predicted throughout the rest of the day Monday, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
Light snow is expected through the midday and afternoon, with the steadiest snowfall lasting through 5 p.m., according to NWS. As much as an inch of snow could accumulate at unpaved surfaces throughout the D.C. metro area, NWS said in a special weather statement issued this morning (Monday).
Alexandria crews were quick to finish clearing Sunday’s snowfall, aided in part by some warmer temperatures and a lack of “snowcrete.”
As of last night (Monday), all primary, secondary and residential streets have been cleared, as well as Alexandria City Public Schools buildings, bus stops, city facilities and adjacent sidewalks, according to a city announcement. Roads are clear as ACPS students and staff make a return to classrooms today on normal schedules, following yesterday’s synchronous learning plans.
Between 2 and 4 inches of snowfall are expected to fall over Alexandria tomorrow (Sunday), according to a new Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service this afternoon.
A mix of rain and snow are expected during the day Sunday, which could transition into full snowfall after 10 p.m., according to the latest NWS forecast. The new advisory tells D.C.-area residents to “plan on slippery road conditions.” It will be in effect from 5 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday, potentially affecting commutes.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins says one lesson to be learned from January’s snow and ice storm is the importance of timely messaging that reaches a large audience.
“It’s given us a lot of lessons learned,” Gaskins said at a roundtable yesterday (Wednesday) hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
Trash collection in Alexandria will begin again at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) as the city’s offices, facilities and courts are set to open with regular hours.
If it is safe to do so, residents are instructed to place trash bins out tomorrow morning to allow snow removal crews to continue working through the night, according to a city announcement. Yard waste and compost will not be collected tomorrow, and there will not be a make-up date for missed collections since Monday.
