Thursday storm update: City returns to regular hours, schools still virtual as recovery continues
Trash collection resumes; weekend snow possible
Alexandria city offices, facilities, and courts will return to regular schedules on Thursday, following a delayed reopening on Wednesday. Schools remain closed for in-person learning.
A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect until 11 a.m., with wind chills as low as 9 below zero. A second advisory takes effect at 7 p.m. and runs through 11 a.m. Friday.
A chance of snow returns Saturday afternoon.
What’s open Thursday
All city government offices, facilities, and courts are open regular hours. Non-emergency city employees may use unscheduled leave if needed due to ongoing conditions.
Trash and recycling collection resumes at 10 a.m. Place bins out on Thursday morning to allow crews to continue snow removal. Yard waste and compost will not be collected. If your pickup is missed, submit a ticket through Alex311.
Schools
Alexandria City Public Schools buildings remain closed on Thursday. Students continue synchronous virtual learning via Zoom. Check Canvas or Clever by 8 a.m. for schedules.
Free meals are available for children under 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Alexandria City High School (3330 King St., Door 34) and Charles Barrett Elementary (1115 Martha Custis Dr.).
The district has not announced Friday’s status.
Roads
As of noon Wednesday, all primary and secondary roads were passable, with residential streets at 57%. Crews continue around-the-clock operations and are addressing refreeze conditions.
The city’s Snow Report tracker is back online after being down briefly. Residents can check road conditions at alexandriava.gov/SnowReport.
The city notes that “passable” means a vehicle—especially an emergency vehicle—can safely get through, even if the road is not fully plowed or pavement is not visible. Once all roads are treated, crews will begin widening intersections, travel lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, and trails.
Transit
Metro rail and bus return to weekday service on Thursday. Trains begin at 5 a.m. and run every 6 to 12 minutes. Buses will operate with mostly normal service, with some snow detours, and service will expand throughout the day as conditions improve. Check wmata.com/snow before traveling.
DASH buses return to normal weekday service on Thursday, with snow detours still in effect. Detours will be lifted as conditions allow. Check dashbus.com/snow for detour maps.
MetroAccess will provide all scheduled trips; curbside service may be used if door-to-door is unavailable due to conditions.
VRE will operate limited service on Thursday due to continued storm-related challenges. Select trains will run on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines, with some terminating at Alexandria. Some PM trains require transfers at Alexandria Station. Check vre.org for full schedule details.
Where to warm up
The winter shelter at 2355-A Mill Road is open 24 hours through noon Tuesday, Feb. 3. Call 703-746-6551.
Warming centers are open at five recreation centers: Charles Houston, Chick Armstrong, Mount Vernon, Patrick Henry, and William Ramsay. Four library branches—Beatley Central, Barrett, Burk,e and Duncan—are also available (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday).
Looking ahead
A chance of snow returns Saturday, mainly after 1 p.m., with a 30% chance continuing into Saturday night at 40%. Sunday looks dry but blustery. Dangerous wind chills are possible for several more nights as the region remains in an Arctic air mass.