Crews hitting streets before snow showers, bitter cold sets in

Snow showers should pass through the region this evening. While the showers will be light in nature, we all remember what happened last time the forecast called for “light snow.” 

The snow should move through this evening late into the afternoon rush hour. Crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation will deploy snow plows to treat the roads early this afternoon, said VDOT Northern Virginia spokeswoman Jennifer McCord. 

Crews will also monitor conditions and treat roads where necessary in the Fredericksburg region, too. Stafford County is included in this region.

“Our crews will be patrolling I-95 and Fredericksburg area roads ahead of rush hour and during rush hour this afternoon with sand and salt to spread where icing and traction is a concern, and we will continue working for as long as the weather dictates tonight, into overnight as needed,” said VDOT Fredericksburg region spokeswoman Kelly Hannon.

When the snow moves out, bitterly cold temperatures will move in. We’re talking lows between zero and five degrees. 

Here’s more from the National Weather Service:

...MAJOR OUTBREAK OF ARCTIC AIR THIS WEEKEND...

BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL MOVE INTO
THE AREA THIS WEEKEND.

* TEMPERATURES SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WILL FALL TO
  BETWEEN ZERO AND 5 ABOVE IN AND AROUND PHILADELPHIA AND AREAS
  SOUTH AND EAST, ZERO TO 5 BELOW IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND
  NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, AND AS LOW AS 12 BELOW IN THE POCONOS. WIND
  CHILL VALUES DURING THIS TIME COULD REACH LIFE THREATENING LEVELS
  AS COLD AS 15 TO 30 BELOW ZERO, WITH THE COLDEST IN THE POCONOS.

* HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY WILL ONLY BE IN THE TEENS, EXCEPT
  IN THE SINGLE DIGITS IN THE POCONOS.

* COLD SPELLS OF THIS MAGNITUDE BRING A RISK OF FROSTBITE AND
  HYPOTHERMIA FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS. IN
  ADDITION, FROZEN PIPES AND OVERWORKED FURNACES COULD LEAVE YOUR
  HOUSE WITHOUT HEAT OR RUNNING WATER, AND CAR BATTERIES RUN THE
  RISK OF DYING. IN ADDITION, MAKE SURE YOUR HOME AND CAR HAVE
  PLENTY OF FUEL.

* NEVER VENTURE OUTDOORS WITHOUT WEARING GLOVES, A HAT AND SEVERAL
  LAYERS OF CLOTHING. WIND CHILL VALUES SATURDAY NIGHT INTO
  SUNDAY MORNING COULD LEAD TO FROSTBITE IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES
  IF PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. CHECK ON YOUR ELDERLY
  NEIGHBORS TO BE SURE THEY ARE OKAY.

* RUN WATER AT A TRICKLE AND KEEP CABINET DOORS OPEN TO PREVENT
  PIPES FROM FREEZING, ESPECIALLY FOR EXPOSED PIPES AND THOSE ALONG
  EXTERIOR WALLS.

* NEVER USE A STOVE OR OVEN TO HEAT YOUR HOME OR USE AN OPEN FLAME
  TO MELT FROZEN PIPES. MANY HOUSE FIRES RESULT FROM THESE PRACTICES.

* CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND YOUR CAR BATTERY. BE SURE YOUR CAR HAS A
  WINTER SAFETY KIT THAT INCLUDES A BLANKET, WARM CLOTHES AND GLOVES
  IN CASE YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN OR BECOMES STRANDED.

* TAKE EXTRA STEPS TO KEEP YOUR PETS WARM AND KNOW THEIR LIMITS TO
  THE COLD.