In what is being described as a “messy mix” of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, winter appears to have come early to Washington, D.C., causing commute delays and school cancelations across the nation’s capital.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect and will be in place until at least Thursday evening as one to two inches are expected to fall today. The November snowfall average is 0.5 inches. The November snowfall record in the city is 11.5 inches, while averaging 14.5 inches of snow annually. The snowy weather will then head north and west of the city, according to WTOP. According to reports, Thursday’s weather is the first measurable snowfall in November since 1996.
“A lot of people didn’t think the snow would materialize this early in the year. It’s a little bit of a shock value,” Virginia Department of Transportation official Ellen Kamilakis said. “We ask people to slow down, to add in more time to their commutes, to not underestimate things. Don’t drive like it’s a fall day; drive like this is a winter day.”
This morning Washington, D.C. is getting its first measurable snowfall in November in 22 yrs. #WinterStormAvery is producing snow from around St. Louis to the Eastern U.S. Our crews are LIVE in the field & studio with the latest on conditions & timing of the snow, ice & rain. pic.twitter.com/kYlbCq2SW6
— AMHQ (@AMHQ) November 15, 2018
The snowfall is part of a larger storm picking up strength in on the east, where the interior mid-Atlantic will reportedly be hit with the most ice and snow. “There is the potential for 6-12 inches of snow from western Maryland to northwestern Maine; however, sleet and freezing rain may cut down on accumulations,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.”In some areas, it is possible that 1-2 inches of sleet falls on top of the snow.”
Below is a list of school delays and closures:
School systems in Baltimore, Howard, Carroll, Culpeper, Loudoun, Fairfax, Montgomery, Prince William, Rappahannock, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Washington and Fauquier counties as well as schools in Frederick County, Maryland, Frederick County, Virginia, are closed Thursday. Manassas Park City Schools and Manassas City Public Schools are also closed.
Schools in Fredericksburg City opened on a two-hour delay.
Afternoon Pre-K in Alexandria City Public Schools is canceled.
Federal agencies in the D.C. area are open, but employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.
Photos and video of the early winter snowfall are making the rounds on social media:
Great working meeting in Washington – two days discussing the challenges and exciting new approaches we are undertaking as part of our #PTSD biomarker development alliance #RAPIDDx #objectivemeasures #biotyping #datascience – meeting ended with the first snow of the year :) pic.twitter.com/nQAMzytKO7
— Kristophe Diaz, PhD (@KristopheDiaz) November 15, 2018
Washington gets first snow of the season https://t.co/9al4uHyhT8 pic.twitter.com/IX9odXngrK
— PostPhoto (@postphoto) November 15, 2018
First measurable November snow in Washington DC in over 20 years. @capitalweather @StormHour @suepalkafox5dc pic.twitter.com/OMzjAHkGZv
— C on the scene (@Conthescene) November 15, 2018
Beautiful scene of snow on the ground near Washington, D.C. this morning sent in by my main man @therealWILRIGGS. pic.twitter.com/lUigoefXFQ
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) November 15, 2018
@nbcwashington The snow is beautiful at Washington National Cathedral! #SNOWvember pic.twitter.com/qH6jGgOCOe
— Melissa Hollerith (@Holler_Rev) November 15, 2018
The snow is accumulating and we are open! ❄️ According to @capitalweather, this is Washington, D.C.’s first November snow since 1996. pic.twitter.com/eFyywEyO0Y
— CPNAS (@CPNAS) November 15, 2018
Cozy up under the snow in our heated ice domes. A hot buttered rum is on the way! pic.twitter.com/hVOQSUkznr
— Four Seasons DC (@FSWashington) November 15, 2018
Washington DC welcoms #PLUS Science Award winners Prof. Oleksyn and Prof. Reich with first snow @aaas @AAAS_STPF @FNP_org_pl pic.twitter.com/ZgrMhNlzFZ
— Grażyna Żebrowska (@gra_ze) November 15, 2018
Excited for another amazing day of learning at #naeycAC ❄️ Woke up to a beautiful snowy day! 🌧Such a fun walk,with snow falling, to the Washington Convention Center! ☃️ pic.twitter.com/Vvw3b9qWFq
— Wendy Oliver (@WendyLOliver) November 15, 2018
The Old Korean Legation covered in its first snow since opening! pic.twitter.com/W0vXJv7Q1s
— Old Korean Legation in Washington DC (@KoreanLegation) November 15, 2018
first snow of the season here in Washington, DC! @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/2QAnMuAkra
— calla kessler (@callakessler) November 15, 2018
Snow has arrived! The weather outside is frightful but inside WFP it’s delightful and we are open for business! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/QA8G17G3ru
— Washington Fine Prop (@washfineprop) November 15, 2018
Snow hits Washington as #Congress heats up, welcoming newly elected members to orientation, sorting out next session’s committee leaderships and setting the final month’s legislative agenda. pic.twitter.com/xJAGOgCAcB
— DeltaMEC GovAffairs (@DALMECgov) November 15, 2018
I'm pretty sure this will be the first time I've shoveled snow in Washington, DC in the middle of November. pic.twitter.com/s6oUnD7wOu
— Nicholas Lefevre (@nlefevre) November 15, 2018
Washington D.C.’s first snow. #Snow #Winter #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/zkVrOMFxtX
— Tess Maria Krasne (@tesskrasne) November 15, 2018
LIVE: Webcam shows snow falling in Washington, D.C.: https://t.co/sETlDc8xjG Here's a preview: pic.twitter.com/mNqPmmabvY
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) November 15, 2018
As I stir a cup of tea at 8 a.m., am thinking the only good thing about snow accumulating in Washington, D.C., this morning is not seeing all the leaves I have yet to rake. #FirstSnow pic.twitter.com/LL2pvIySlQ
— Alexis Simendinger (@ASimendinger) November 15, 2018
November 15. Snow in Washington. Hell is freezing over early this year. pic.twitter.com/mlKIaSidnt
— Steven Livingston (@ICTlivingston) November 15, 2018
S.E. Washington D.C. snow Good Morning pic.twitter.com/1kbSGMECrg
— Thomas (@kennerly_thomas) November 15, 2018
Like many places from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic is getting its first #snow of the season. Our cameras in the Washington, D.C. area show a wintry scene, but roads could still be slick. Latest Camera View: https://t.co/HtAF2EsXjH #dcwx pic.twitter.com/VscKLnuMXU
— WeatherBug (@WeatherBug) November 15, 2018
First #snow of the season in Washington D.C.! @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/KNRW1IyFGg
— Joe Gomez (@JoeGomezNews) November 15, 2018
Great start to the national science teachers Association meeting in Washington DC national Harbor. Let it snow! pic.twitter.com/6NQpiZAO0I
— Kevin S Garner (@ksgarnermd) November 15, 2018
Snowing in Washington DC area. I believe it is the first snow of the year. pic.twitter.com/lcd4Oy9uEe
— Shahmahmood Miakhel (@S_MIAKHEL) November 15, 2018
Moderate wet snow falling in Washington DC this morning @DaveCurren @News12NJ pic.twitter.com/R8eWtwGSvc
— Hugh Welsh (@HughCWelsh) November 15, 2018
The Florida part of me is delighted to wake up and see the first snow of the season; every other part of me is going, anxiously, "uh it's November 15 in Washington, climate change DEFINITELY did this." Mainly hoping it doesn't affect my flight tonight. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dwWBBWMaLH
— Gabby Deutch (@GSDeutch) November 15, 2018
First Snow of the season. Big wet flakes outside of Police Headquarters in NW Washington @TuckerFox5 pic.twitter.com/jn4uZelCFN
— Rapheal Tolver (@TolverR) November 15, 2018
@TuckerFox5 we are getting snow in Fort Washington, MD and I’m loving it. pic.twitter.com/kZEKZQntGa
— Shirley Jackson (@ShirlenaJack) November 15, 2018
Snow in downtown Washington DC pic.twitter.com/Xlhvw3IusY
— Dave Rysak (@DaveFox5DC) November 15, 2018
Happiness of an American kid when seeing the first snow of the year in Washington DC area ❄️ ⛄️ #Washington pic.twitter.com/VzkSpLk3UL
— Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) November 15, 2018
I interrupt this dreary, frigid Washington morning to bring you premium puppy content. Dolly saw her first snow this morning. Her ancestors were Swiss mountain dogs, so naturally she’s a big fan. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/MljPxkIbd3
— Amy Brittain (@AmyJBrittain) November 15, 2018
Snow falls as a women walks across the plaza at the US Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday. A winter storm advisory has been issued for the DC with moderate to heavy snow and sleet that could accumulate 1 to 2 inches.#snowday #Snow pic.twitter.com/LuDh1mjtVf
— The Gulf Today (@thegulftoday) November 15, 2018
It’s Washington DC’s first snow of the season (not really sticking). Hello cold weather ❄️ ☕️ pic.twitter.com/qDkGlVeVOR
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) November 15, 2018
Washington DC , snow 🙏❄️ pic.twitter.com/JmYX3ZhkOi
— Monica Villamizar (@monica_vv) November 15, 2018
This is the wintry scene in Washington, D.C. as the White House is blanketed in snow. https://t.co/P0Vjb4Sx6l pic.twitter.com/Ju6ZiXUhU4
— ABC News (@ABC) November 15, 2018
Washington D.C. is getting its first snow storm of the season this morning! The dogs are mixed about it… https://t.co/heqqYUT9xX #DMVWX pic.twitter.com/lmkqTBRnCe
— Dennis 🍂 Jansen (@dennisjansen) November 15, 2018
Winter is coming to Washington DC! It’s the first snow of the season! pic.twitter.com/2i87UQxxnT
— Ruffy Biazon (@ruffybiazon) November 15, 2018
Oh hello Washington snow pic.twitter.com/D8nbLaaJNO
— Sakhr Al-Makhadhi (@sakhr) November 15, 2018
I thought I’d miss the snow in Boston, but it’s finally snowing in Washington DC!#acyplPFP #ProFellows pic.twitter.com/z3OAuqMan1
— Norman Goh (@imnormgoh) November 15, 2018
Snow ❄️ coming down steadily in Washington pic.twitter.com/oeJ7dyVAG3
— Fernando Pizarro (@FPizarro_DC) November 15, 2018
Berfê yekê ya salê li Washingtonê / First snow in Washington/ Washington’da yilin ilk karı https://t.co/X3wDn04wiz
— Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) November 15, 2018
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