VDOT asks drivers to stay off the roads on Saturday, Jan. 14 due to snow, sleet, freezing rain

Virginia Department of Transportation and contract crews are prepaed for plummeting temperatures and a gamut of winter weather forecast for northern Virginia this weekend, from early Saturday morning through Sunday morning.

Drivers are asked to monitor weather reports for the latest updates to avoid being on the road during periods of limited visibility or icy conditions. Stay off roads Saturday or delay trips until Sunday if possible, to avoid being caught in deteriorating conditions as weather transitions between snow, sleet and freezing rain through the day.

Crews began pretreating roads Friday and were staged roadside in the region by 10 p.m. Throughout Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington* counties (*Arlington maintains own secondary roads) crews treat about 5,200 lane miles of interstates and other high-volume roads with liquid magnesium chloride or brine when conditions allow for winter weather.

Why does VDOT ask drivers to stay home?

• Visibility will be limited during periods of snow.
• Freezing rain causes an ice glaze that is difficult to see. Black ice often looks like pavement that is simply wet, making it extremely hazardous for driving or walking.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles cannot stop any better than two-wheel drive vehicles on ice.

Stay informed of current road conditions and VDOT’s efforts:

• Check 511virginia.org or the mobile app for road conditions and closures
• Visit virginiadot.org/novaemergency for the latest updates and resources during winter events in northern Virginia
• Follow @VaDOTNOVA on Twitter