Article Text

Fairfax County Public Schools will close all schools and offices Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, as a winter storm brings heavy snow, hazardous roads and the threat of significant icing to the region.

Students were dismissed three hours early Tuesday as snow began falling. All Wednesday activities on school property are canceled, including extracurricular events, athletic contests, team practices, field trips, middle school after-school programs, professional training, recreation programs and community use by outside groups.

Adult and Community Education classes, Adult High School and GED programs, homebound and home-based instruction are also canceled. School-Age Child Care centers will be closed.

Essential FCPS employees should follow instructions from their supervisors. All other personnel have been granted emergency administrative leave.

A National Weather Service Winter Storm Warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday. As of 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, forecasters expected 4 to 7 inches of snow across the D.C. region.

Fairfax County government offices and the county court system will also be closed Wednesday. The courts closed early at 1 p.m. Tuesday. County employees who are not emergency personnel have been granted emergency administrative leave, while emergency personnel should report as scheduled.

Trash and recycling collections will be pushed back one day. Wednesday customers will receive service Thursday, Feb. 13; Thursday collections will move to Friday; and Friday service will shift to Saturday. Containers must be free of ice before they can be collected.

The storm was already disrupting travel Tuesday. Fairfax Connector buses began using snow detours at 4 p.m., while snow and ice caused road closures around the county.

Fairfax Alerts reported closures at Richmond Highway, also known as Route 1, near Interstate 95; Telegraph Road at Jeff Todd Way; and Belle View Boulevard at Fort Hunt Road.

Virginia State Police reported 11 crashes on Northern Virginia roads by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Two involved injuries.

Although the heaviest snowfall was expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, forecasters said a light wintry mix could continue Wednesday and affect the morning commute. Heavy, wet snow followed by significant icing Wednesday afternoon and evening could make some roads impassable, the National Weather Service warned.