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Fairfax County Public Schools will open two hours late Wednesday as dangerously cold temperatures threaten to refreeze lingering snow and ice.

The delay aligns FCPS with school systems in Arlington and Alexandria. FCPS central offices will open at 10 a.m.

A National Weather Service Cold Weather Advisory begins at midnight and is scheduled to remain in effect until 11 a.m. Temperatures could fall as low as 5 degrees below zero Tuesday night, creating a risk of hypothermia for people who do not take precautions.

Residents are advised to limit exposure, use caution outdoors and wear layers, hats and gloves.

The deep freeze is expected to harden snow and ice left by the Jan. 6 storm and snowfall on Jan. 19. Fairfax County received only a coating during the more recent storm, despite forecasts calling for several inches.

Under the adjusted FCPS schedule, morning special education preschool classes and morning field trips are canceled. Afternoon preschool will begin at its usual time, while full-day special education preschool and Early Head Start/PreK classes will start two hours late.

Morning transportation to high school academy classes is canceled. Transportation will be available for academy classes beginning after 12:45 p.m.

Adult High School and GED courses will start two hours late, but Adult and Community Education classes will begin on time. Homebound and home-based instruction will start at 10 a.m., and School Age Child Care centers will open at 8 a.m.

Fairfax County officials are also urging residents to watch for people who may lack shelter during the bitter cold. Anyone who sees a person at risk of hypothermia should call the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131. Call 911 if the person appears to be in immediate distress.

The county’s Hypothermia Prevention Program will operate through the end of March, providing immediate shelter to any adult who needs it. The program has worked since 2005 to prevent deaths and serious injuries among vulnerable residents by ensuring they do not have to sleep outside during winter.