School districts across the D.C. region have announced closures or delayed starts for Monday with several inches of wet snow forecast from a major winter storm roaring up the East Coast.
The Office of Personnel Management saidfederal agencies in the region will open on a two-hour delay, with the option of unscheduled leave or telework for employees.
While many public school systems plan to open on a two-hour delay Monday, officials said that could change as they reevaluate conditions. That was the case for Fairfax County Public Schools, which had initially announced a delayed start but later shifted to a closure for Monday.
Although this storm is not expected to be as severe as the one Jan. 25 that closed some schools for more than a week, there should be enough accumulation that many will add on yet another snow day. Moreover, while the majority of the snow is forecast to occur before sunrise Monday, some flakes could still be falling during the morning commute, especially in eastern parts of the region.
School officials weigh a number of factors, including road conditions, to decide whether to cancel or delay classes.
Announced schedule changes
- Federal agencies: Two-hour delay
- Alexandria City Public Schools: Two-hour delay
- Anne Arundel County Public Schools: Virtual learning
- Arlington Public Schools: Two-hour delay
- Calvert County Public Schools: Closed; essential employees to report as normal
- Carroll County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
- Charles County Public Schools: Closed; two-hour delay for employees on code system
- Fairfax County Public Schools: Closed; essential personnel should follow direction of their supervisor
- Falls Church City Public Schools: Two-hour delay; day care will open at 9 a.m., but no drop-ins will be accepted
- Fauquier County Public Schools: Two-hour delay; essential employees must report on time
- Frederick County (Md.) Public Schools: Two-hour delay
- Howard County Public Schools: Two-hour delay; no morning ARL classes
- Loudoun County Public Schools: Closed
- Manassas City Public Schools: Two-hour delay; no pre-K; AlphaBest to open at 8:30 a.m.
- Montgomery County Public Schools: Two-hour delay; morning child care may operate as scheduled
- Prince George’s County Public Schools: Two-hour delay; emergency employees must report on time. Families should prepare for possible virtual learning if conditions change.
- Prince William County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
- Spotsylvania County Public Schools: Two-hour delay; no morning Early Childhood Special Education classes
- Stafford County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
- St. Mary’s County Public Schools: Closed; code three for staff
Below, find the Capital Weather Gang’s earlier predictions for schools and the federal government on Monday.
SchoolCast
We surmise enough snow will fall that most students and teachers will have a snow day on Monday. Some jurisdictions that have a higher bar for closing, such as D.C. Public Schools, may instead choose to go with a delay. It’s also possible that counties in the far southern part of the region (away from the Chesapeake Bay), where less snow is expected, opt for a delay.
FedCast
The Office of Personnel Management has a slightly higher bar for closing compared with most area schools. Because a lot of the snow will have already fallen before the morning commute, we see a delayed opening as more probable than closing. It’s highly likely that there will be an unscheduled leave and telework option.
The post Snow prompts delays, closures for D.C.-area schools, federal offices appeared first on Washington Post.
