Fairfax, Virginia – Roads across the D.C. suburbs could turn slick after 10 p.m. Monday as freezing rain develops, raising the risk of spinouts and slowdowns through the Tuesday morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday for parts of central and western Maryland, including Montgomery and Howard counties, and across northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, Prince William, Culpeper and Rappahannock counties. Forecasters expect up to 1 inch of snow, followed by ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch.
A brief round of light snow is possible late Monday morning into the afternoon, but the primary travel threat arrives overnight. Snow and sleet will transition to mainly freezing rain, which could glaze bridges and elevated stretches of Interstate 495, I-270, I-66 and I-95 before daybreak Tuesday.
Drivers should reduce speed, allow extra stopping distance and check 511 for updated road conditions. Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing by midmorning Tuesday, allowing precipitation to change to plain rain. Additional advisories could be issued if ice totals trend higher overnight.
