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Fairfax County Public Schools canceled Monday classes and closed all buildings and offices as Northern Virginia prepared for its most significant snowstorm in years.

The closure gives students an additional day of winter break. All activities on school grounds are canceled, including athletic practices, extracurricular programs and adult education classes. School Age Child Care centers will also be closed.

Fairfax County government offices will close Monday, with emergency administrative leave granted to employees other than emergency personnel. Public library branches, Park Authority facilities and programs, and the Reston and McLean community centers are also closing.

Travel disruptions began Sunday evening. The National Park Service planned to close the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway from Interstate 495 to Spout Run at 6 p.m. The closure will remain in place until crews can treat the roadway and restore safe conditions.

Officials warned that reopening could be delayed because crews must use smaller equipment to navigate the parkway’s narrow lanes and configurations. Drivers were advised to take alternate routes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation began treating roads with salt brine Saturday and urged motorists to avoid traveling from Sunday afternoon into Monday, particularly in Northern and Central Virginia.

VDOT said snow could accumulate at 5 to 12 inches across Northern Virginia, Winchester, Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg and parts of Central Virginia. Snowfall rates could reach an inch per hour, creating treacherous conditions overnight and Monday morning.

Metro plans to operate buses on a reduced Monday schedule and warned riders to expect disruptions. No specific rail changes were announced, though the transit agency said some reductions were likely as conditions developed.

A Winter Storm Warning covering Fairfax County and the surrounding region was scheduled from 10 p.m. Sunday until 1 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Forecasters expected 5 to 10 inches of snow and sleet, with isolated totals reaching 12 inches if intense snow bands developed. Snow could fall at rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour between midnight and mid-morning Monday, followed by another burst of heavy snow Monday evening.

Untreated and unplowed roads could become impassable during both Monday commutes, and even primary roads may be difficult to navigate during the heaviest snowfall. Officials recommended postponing nonessential travel.

Anyone who must drive was advised to carry a flashlight, food and water and to check road conditions by calling 511.