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Fairfax County Public Schools will dismiss students three hours early Monday as potentially severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and tornadoes threaten the region.
Schools and administrative offices will close early rather than open two hours late, requiring some families to make last-minute child care arrangements.
FCPS said students will be kept at school if changing conditions make an early release unsafe. Families will receive updates if dismissal must be delayed.
The National Weather Service had not issued alerts for Fairfax County or the Washington region, but forecast a 60% to 80% chance of precipitation Monday. Showers and thunderstorms were considered especially likely after 4 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center classified Monday’s severe-weather risk in the Mid-Atlantic as moderate. A powerful cold front is expected to reach the East Coast after producing widespread blizzard conditions in the Midwest and Great Lakes.
Forecasters said atmospheric conditions and daytime heating could trigger severe weather across the interior Mid-Atlantic from late Monday afternoon into early evening. A rapidly moving area of low pressure could add instability along the front.
Fairfax County warned that wind gusts could reach 80 mph, bringing down trees and power lines. Tornadoes are also possible. County officials urged residents to monitor conditions beginning Monday morning and plan to be indoors by early afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to fall into the 40s later in the week after the front passes.
School schedule changes
Morning preschool and special education classes will dismiss at approximately 10 a.m.
Full-day preschool, special education, and Early Head Start/PreK classes will dismiss three hours earlier than usual. Afternoon special education preschool classes are canceled.
Late buses are canceled, and homebound instruction will end by 1 p.m.
FCPS also canceled the following activities in schools and on school grounds:
- Extracurricular activities
- Interscholastic contests
- Team practices
- Field trips
- Middle school after-school programs
- Professional learning and training courses
- Adult and Community Education classes
- Recreation programs and use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS
School Age Child Care and Beyond the Bell programs will contact participating families directly about their plans.
Employees designated as essential personnel under Regulation 4810 should follow their supervisors’ directions. All other personnel are authorized to take emergency administrative leave.