weather | ALXnow

Heavy sleet followed by refreezes hinder Alexandria’s response to ‘unprecedented’ storm

Published January 28, 2026 at 11:30AM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 12:06PM

Alexandria crews continue to work on snow and ice removal in late January 2026 (via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria is continuing around-the-clock snow removal operations after last weekend’s winter storm brought an “unprecedented amount of sleet and freezing rain” to the region, City Manager Jim Parajon said.

The storm was “unlike anything that we’ve experienced since the mid-1990s,” Parajon told City Council last night (Tuesday) during a report on Alexandria’s snow preparedness and response efforts. Hours of freezing rain and sleet on top of the city’s 7 inches of snow had limited the effectiveness of plows.

News

JUST IN: ACPS will shift to virtual learning Wednesday as schools remain closed

By Katie Taranto

Published January 27, 2026 at 3:30PM

Snowy day at the 100 block of King Street, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a virtual workday for students and teachers at Alexandria City Public Schools.

ACPS facilities will remain closed for all activities for a third consecutive day due to inclement weather, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced this afternoon. Students, teachers and staff will instead move to synchronous virtual learning plans.

Around Town

‘Snow Buddy’ volunteers help clear Alexandria neighbors’ sidewalks after storm

By Katie Taranto

Published January 27, 2026 at 12:35PM

Sage Goyda and son participate in the Snow Buddy Program (courtesy of Volunteer Alexandria)

A team of volunteers in Alexandria have bundled up to shovel and treat their neighbors’ walkways after this weekend’s winter storm.

For two decades, Volunteer Alexandria’s Snow Buddy Program has provided snow removal assistance to people with disabilities, homebound residents and seniors who meet income eligibility requirements. The program, which typically serves 30 to 40 residents, is meeting increased needs in the city, with 65 service requests from Alexandria residents so far this winter.

News

JUST IN: ACPS will remain closed on Tuesday as city continues snow removal

By Katie Taranto

Published January 26, 2026 at 3:10PM

Snowplow in Alexandria, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be another snow day for Alexandria City Public Schools students, ACPS announced this afternoon.

All schools and offices will close “due to below freezing temperatures this evening and road conditions across the region,” Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt wrote in an announcement. This also means all activities on school grounds are canceled.

News

DASH and paratransit cancel Monday service as Alexandria facilities plan to close

By Katie Taranto

Published January 25, 2026 at 10:25PM | Updated January 25, 2026 at 10:45PM

DASH bus in the snow, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

DASH and DOT Paratransit have canceled all services for tomorrow (Monday), according to announcements from both systems this evening.

DASH’s service cancellation is the system’s first in years, it said, and comes as Alexandria’s public schools, libraries, government offices, facilities and trash collection have announced Monday closures and cancellations.

News

Alexandria postpones Monday trash collection due to inclement weather

By Katie Taranto

Published January 25, 2026 at 2:20PM

Snow shoveling at the King St-Old Town Metro station, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria will not collect trash, recycling or yard waste tomorrow (Monday), according to an announcement this afternoon as sleet continues to fall.

Instead, waste collection will “slide” one day as the city’s crews continue to remove snow and ice. The city has released the following collection schedule for the week ahead.

News

UPDATED: Van Dorn Street reopened at scene of Sunday snowplow crash near Fairfax border

By Katie Taranto

Published January 25, 2026 at 1:10PM | Updated January 26, 2026 at 9:15AM

Southbound Van Dorn Street at the scene of a snowplow crash (via APD/Facebook)

Southbound S. Van Dorn Street at Eisenhower Avenue has been reopened to traffic following a snowplow crash yesterday morning (Sunday).

A snowplow driver with the Virginia Department of Transportation was trapped inside their overturned vehicle at the Fairfax County border after crashing at S. Van Dorn Street and Eisenhower Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday.

News

JUST IN: All ACPS schools closed tomorrow as winter storm continues

By Katie Taranto

Published January 25, 2026 at 12:05PM | Updated January 25, 2026 at 1:40PM

Snowfall in Alexandria, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

All Alexandria City Public Schools and offices will be closed tomorrow (Monday) due to the ongoing winter storm.

Monday was previously scheduled as a teacher work day, per ACPS’ calendar. The new cancellation affects all in-person afternoon and evening activities scheduled on school grounds, including programming provided by community organizations or the City of Alexandria.

News

Snowplows roving Alexandria after several inches of overnight snowfall

By Katie Taranto

Published January 25, 2026 at 9:45AM | Updated January 25, 2026 at 10:07AM

Snowplow in Alexandria, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s snow and ice removal teams are out in the city this morning (Sunday) following heavy overnight snowfall from Winter Storm Fern.

The city is advising residents to limit travel as crews travel to remove several inches of snowfall — at least 5.5 inches in Alexandria as of 8:25 a.m., according to trained spotters with the National Weather Service.

News

Alexandria declares Snow Emergency, requiring vehicle removal on emergency routes

By Katie Taranto

Published January 24, 2026 at 12:15PM

Richmond Highway, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria has declared a Snow Emergency ahead of this weekend’s forecasted winter storm, requiring all vehicles to be removed from the city’s snow emergency routes by 10 p.m. tonight (Saturday).

An estimated 7 to 14 inches of “widespread significant snow” and sleet are expected to fall over the D.C. region this evening, leading to potential ice on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. In Alexandria, parking will be prohibited on the city’s snow emergency routes to allow for plowing and treatment.

Weather

NWS: Power outages, tree damage ‘likely’ across N. Va. with Winter Storm Warning

By Katie Taranto

Published January 23, 2026 at 11:05AM

Walking on E. Reed Avenue in Alexandria, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning in Alexandria and the D.C. region this morning, advising of potential power outages and tree damage due to forecasted ice.

The warning, in effect from 11 p.m. Saturday to 4 a.m. Monday, advises of heavy precipitation and as much as 14 inches in total sleet and snow accumulations across D.C., Northern Virginia and central, northeast and northern Maryland. It’s an elevation from NWS’ previous Winter Storm Watch in the area.