Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Vienna: What To Know

VIENNA, VA—Get out your snow boots and bundle up, because Vienna could get snow beginning Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Vienna and the surrounding area from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday. Snowfall totals may only get to an inch, but forecasters warn of snow-covered roads and limited visibility.

Crews are out pretreating roads Tuesday ahead of the storm. Here's what you need to know about conditions, traffic and clearing snow in the Town of Vienna and Fairfax County.

Who removes the snow in Vienna?

The Town of Vienna is responsible for snow removal on its public streets. Workers will treat and plow the roads until all public roads are clear of snow and deemed safe. Treating roads begins before a storm, while plowing will happen with an accumulation of two inches or more. The Town of Vienna urges residents to avoid parking on-street and on snow emergency routes to alleviate snow removal.

The Virginia Department of Transportation covers the roads in Fairfax County, except for a few private roads that are the responsibility of the homeowner or a homeowner association. Fairfax County does clear a few roads, mostly around police and fire stations, for example. Expect VDOT trucks patrolling and treating roads where they're needed.

Which streets are the first priority when it snows?

Primary streets are typically plowed first in Vienna, followed by secondary streets. For VDOT, treatment priorities are on major highways and primary roadways, then snow emergency routes and heavily traveled roads, and remaining roads handled by VDOT.

How will this affect commutes?

The Wednesday morning commute could be slower than usual with the chance of slick roads. Temperatures will only rise to a high of 28 in Vienna Wednesday. Drivers are urged to slow down and add time to their trips if roads become hazardous.

According to the National Weather Service, "If this threat does materialize during the Wednesday morning rush-hour, many roads could quickly turn icy. This could lead to dangerous traveling conditions, multiple accidents, and extensive delays."

How can I check on the road conditions?

VDOT has a web tool at vdotplows.org that shows the status of road treatment in NoVa neighborhoods. Green means the neighborhood has been treated, yellow means that treating is in progress, blue indicates treating hasn't started working, and gray means VDOT doesn't maintain the area. Residents can also call 511 for the latest road conditions around the state. Plus, monitor the VDOT Northern Virginia and National Weather Service's social media feeds for updates.

Who is responsible for treating walkways and sidewalks?

Fairfax County asks all residents to help out with clearing sidewalks in front of residences and businesses to keep them safe for pedestrians and particularly children and those with disabilities or the elderly. If you're part of a homeowner association, you may be required to do so, so contact your association if you're not sure.
Fairfax County recommends that you consider removing ice in the following seven places:

• The sidewalk in front of your home
• The sidewalk in front of vacant homes or homes where residents are unable to shovel
• Fire hydrants
• Bus stops (there are more than 4,000 in the county!)
• Sidewalks/paths that lead to schools or community buildings where snow has been removed
• Bike trails
• Storm drains

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Image via Patch editor Emily Leayman