Snow Closings, Cancellations and Delays in Alexandria

Alexandria is under a Winter Storm Warning from Wednesday at 8 p.m. through Thursday at 3 p.m. The Governor has declared a state of emergency in Virginia, which provides additional flexibility for state and local agencies to respond to the storm.

***ACPS announced Wednesday night that schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 13 due to the expected inclement weather and snow accumulation.

Emergency Preparedness

Significant accumulation of heavy, wet snow may result in a Level 1 or Level 2 storm, which means some residential roads may not be clear until the end of the weekend. This type of precipitation often results in power outages.  

The City urges all residents and businesses to prepare for the possibility that it may not be safe to travel for three or more days, and that power may be out during this period. City crews are pretreating roads, bridges and other key travel infrastructure, and are preparing to work 24 hours a day to clear roads if necessary.

The best thing you can do to protect your family or your business against any type of unforeseen emergency year-round is to have three days of food, water, and medicine available and to have a plan for what to do if you can’t travel safely. 

The City clears snow from more than 560 lane miles of roadway, 20 miles of City-owned walkways and trails, and 44 acres of municipal parking lots or City-owned squares. Roads are plowed by priority, with primary and snow emergency routes cleared first, followed by secondary routes and then residential streets. 

During a major storm, it may only be possible to plow roads so that they are passable for emergency vehicles, rather than down to the pavement across all travel lanes. 

Use the City’s SnowReport tracking system to check on plowing priorities, the status of your street, or to submit a concern. Residents and businesses can help by staying off the roads during and after snowfall, not parking on posted snow emergency routes, promptly clearing sidewalks and entrances, not shoveling snow into the street, and clearing snow from around fire hydrants and storm drains.

• If your power goes out, report it to Dominion Virginia Power at 866.DOM.HELP (866.366.4357) or www.dom.com. 
• To report a water main break or for questions about water service, contact Virginia American Water at 800.452.6863.
• For questions or concerns about storm response, call 703.746.HELP.  Please call 911 only in the case of a life-threatening emergency or serious crime.
• For details, including storm level definitions and preparedness information, visit alexandriava.gov/Snow, sign up for the City’s free eNews service, or connect online at alexandriava.gov/SocialMedia.
• If you are able, check on your neighbors to make sure they have heat and are safely weathering the cold.  Check the Health Department website for tips on preparing for frigid temperatures.

• No VRE, MARC train or Metro bus service Thursday.
• Federal government: Closed: Thursday, Feb. 13. Emergency and telework-ready employees required to work must follow their agency's policies, including written telework agreements.

• Alexandria city government offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, February 13.  Only emergency personnel should report to work.
• Courts located in the Alexandria City Courthouse at 520 King Street will be closed on Thursday, February 13.
• City solid waste collection (including refuse and recycling) will not occur on Thursday, February 13.

• Delayed Opening Chinquapin Park Recreation Center 
  Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
  The Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility will open at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, due to the predicted winter storm.
  Location: Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, 3210 King St.
  Contact: Lou Williams, 703.746.5553
• CANCELLED Commission on Aging 
  Thursday, 4-5 p.m.
  Regular monthly meeting
  Location: Human Services Building, 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave.
  Contact: Debbie Ludington, 703.746.5692
• CANCELLED City Council Legislative Subcommittee 
  Friday, 5-6 p.m.
  Legislative Subcommittee meeting
  Location: City Hall, Council Work Room, 301 King St.
  Contact: (703) 746-4550.

• ACPS will close all school facilities at 9 p.m. tonight (Wednesday), due to the winter weather forecast to affect the region later this evening. ACPS officials will continue to monitor weather conditions and will make an announcement later about its operating status for tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 13. 
• ***ACPS announced Wednesday night that schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 13 due to the expected inclement weather and snow accumulation.