[Archived] City of Alexandria Urges Community to Help Prepare for Winter Storm

For Immediate Release: January 30, 2021

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Alexandria area from Sunday, January 31, at 1 a.m. until 12 a.m. on Monday, February 1. Heavy snow is forecast, with potential accumulations of 4 to 8 inches. Ice accumulation of around one tenth of an inch is also expected. The City of Alexandria urges residents to be prepared for hazardous road conditions and difficult travel. The City is monitoring conditions. Crews have completed pretreatment of all roads and will be fully deployed to respond to winter precipitation overnight tonight.

Here are some important facts about snow removal and winter storms in Alexandria:

• Storms are designated with levels based on type and severity, from Level 1 (least severe) to Level 3 (most severe). Storm levels are updated on the City’s website as the weather changes.

• Roads are plowed by priority. Snow emergency routes are plowed first, followed by secondary routes, intermediate routes and residential streets. The City’s SnowReport tracking system enables residents to view plowing priorities and submit concerns.

• Clearing sidewalks, driveways and entrances is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, occupant, community association or business. Time limits for clearing snow are determined by the storm level: 

  • Level 1: 24 hours after snowfall stops

  • Level 2: 48 hours after snowfall stops

  • Level 3: 72 hours after snowfall stops

• The City pretreats roads with brine when low temperatures or precipitation are possible. This preventive anti-icing measure, along with the City’s usual snow and ice prevention and removal techniques, helps keep roads safer.

Residents and customers are asked to do the following to help snow crews and emergency responders during winter storms and other weather emergencies:

• Stay off the roads in the event of snow or ice.

• Do not park on snow emergency routes.

• Keep shovels and salt or sand handy.

• Prepare an emergency kit and have an emergency plan in place.

• Clear ice, snow and leaves from around fire hydrants and storm drains, and avoid shoveling snow into the street.

• Sign up to become a Snow Buddy and help your neighbors who are unable to shovel snow.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Snow for more information about the City’s plans for winter weather and how you can prepare. 

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/120105.