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Fairfax County Public Schools will remain closed Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, as lingering snow and ice continue to make travel difficult across the county.

Superintendent Michelle Reid announced the closure Wednesday evening, citing unsafe conditions on sidewalks, at bus stops and along some roads after Monday’s storm dropped six to 10 inches of snow.

Although the Virginia Department of Transportation has prioritized clearing secondary roads, Reid said many sidewalks and FCPS bus stops remain covered. The school system has approximately 45,000 bus stops and will not reopen classrooms until officials can ensure students can travel safely.

Thursday will be the fourth consecutive snow day following winter break, which began Dec. 23 and was scheduled to end Monday. Students have now been away from classrooms for nearly three weeks.

School offices and the FCPS central office will open to the public at 10 a.m., and administrative employees will report to work. However, activities at schools and on school grounds are canceled.

The cancellations include extracurricular activities, athletic contests and practices, field trips, middle school after-school programs, professional training, adult high school and GED programs, Adult and Community Education classes, and recreation programs. School Age Child Care centers, homebound instruction and home-based instruction are also canceled.

FCPS plans to provide an update Thursday about Friday’s status.

The closure differs from plans in some neighboring Northern Virginia school systems. Arlington Public Schools, for example, will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday.

There was some improvement elsewhere in the region Wednesday. The National Park Service reopened the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway at about 4:30 p.m. after weather had closed the road between I-495 in McLean and Spout Run in Arlington since 6 p.m. Sunday.

Drivers were advised to expect delays and narrow lanes through the construction corridor. Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction because of the weather, and the speed limit remains 40 mph.