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Fairfax County is bracing for dangerously cold conditions after Winter Storm Fern, with temperatures and wind chills expected to fall below zero and remain below freezing through at least Friday night.
The prolonged freeze could slow efforts to clear roads and sidewalks while increasing the risk of water main problems. Monday is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 27 degrees and wind gusts potentially reaching 28 mph. Overnight temperatures could drop to around 2 degrees, with wind chills as low as 7 below zero.
Fairfax Connector suspended all bus service Monday because of difficult road conditions. The system had initially planned to operate limited Sunday service but changed course Sunday night. Officials said further service decisions will depend on road conditions.
Meanwhile, Virginia lawmakers are considering several measures affecting schools, transportation and the environment. Bills from Sen. Danica Roem of Prince William and Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker of Alexandria would provide free breakfasts to students and reimburse schools for the meals. The proposal advanced unanimously through the Senate Education and Health Committee on Thursday and is heading to the Finance and Appropriations Committee.
Roem also introduced legislation directing the Virginia Department of Transportation to examine the benefits and drawbacks of road salt and possible alternatives. Options used or proposed elsewhere include calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and mixtures containing sand, cat litter or beet juice.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones took a step Thursday that could open a path for the state to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Jones filed a motion that could allow Virginia to settle or withdraw from litigation surrounding former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s departure from the multistate carbon market.
A federal district judge also ruled that a class-action lawsuit challenging solitary confinement practices in Virginia prisons may proceed. The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Corrections arbitrarily kept people isolated for extended periods in violation of its “Step Down” program. Del. Holly Seibold of Vienna raised concerns about conditions in restorative housing after visiting Red Onion State Prison last year.
In Annandale, animal control officers freed a hawk trapped inside a batting cage at Pine Ridge Park. The bird was safely released back into the wild after the rescue last week.
Fairfax County residents seeking affordable housing assistance will soon have another opportunity to apply. The county redevelopment and housing authority will open its waitlist for Project-Based Voucher units from Feb. 2 through Feb. 8. The program generally serves households earning no more than 50% of the area median income.