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TIMELINE: DMV digs out of first major winter storm of 2022

WUSA-TV Washington, D.C. logo WUSA-TV Washington, D.C. 1/2/2022 Nicole Baca, Matt Pusatory, Brielle Ashford, Nick Boykin, Deirdre Byrne

THIS STORY IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED LIVE. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ON POWER OUTAGES AND HERE FOR THE LATEST ON 1-95 ROAD CONDITIONS. 

ORIGINAL STORY BELOW

Fatal crashes, delays and cancellations, thousands without power and schools closing for Tuesday are the results of a winter weather storm that blanketed the DMV region with snow Monday.

RELATED: Tips for surviving a winter power outage

Nighttime temperatures in the region dropped into the teens, which have led to icy road and sidewalk conditions that cause unsafe travel. WUSA9 has reported several school districts closing for Tuesday amid the potential impacts.

RELATED: Drivers stranded in I-95 traffic nightmare for as long as 24 hours after storm wreaks havoc

Here's a timeline of 2022's first major snowstorm: 

Tuesday

9:50 a.m.: Some flight cancellations and delays are still being seen across the area, although not as many as on Monday. 

DCA has seen 660 cancellations in the last 24 hours, while IAD has seen 177 and BWI is at 238.

7:46 a.m.: Prince George’s County government, including the Sheriff's Office, Hyattsville Court, and Upper Marlboro Court will close to the public Tuesday.

7:36 a.m.: More than 135,000 people are still without power across DC, Maryland and Virginia, according to PEPCO and Dominion Energy.

7:30 a.m.: WMATA says that train service has been restored between Mt. Vernon Square and Navy Yard/Pentagon City on the Yellow/Green line following earlier fire department activity at L'Enfant Plaza. Riders should expect delays.

RELATED: Drivers stranded in I-95 traffic nightmare for as long as 24 hours after storm wreaks havoc

7:20 a.m.: All Anne Arundel County government buildings and parks will close Tuesday, effective immediately, due to inclement weather.

7:15 a.m. Prince William County government facilities will open late at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The county announced that employees can take unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework until conditions permit safe travel to work. 

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They've asked anyone who has business to do with the county to please be aware that services may be impacted due to the weather conditions and staffing. "Please call before visiting or check the county website at  pwcva.gov to see if you are able to conduct your business online."

7 a.m.: Virginia State Police have responded to 14 car crashes and assisted 38 disabled cars. In addition to those numbers, Virginia State Police are currently on the scene of 16 traffic crashes statewide and responding to 46 disabled cars.

"Downed trees and black ice are the major issues for much of Virginia this morning. For these reasons, Virginians are still discouraged from traveling until later today... for their safety and to help expedite the process of clearing, treating and plowing interstate, primary and secondary roadways," VSP stated.

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6 a.m.: Interstate 95 is closed in the Fredericksburg area of Virginia northbound and southbound from exit 152 (Dumfries Road) to exit 104 (Carmel Church) as crews continue work to remove stopped trucks, treat for icing, and plow snow.

RELATED: Drivers stuck for hours overnight on icy I-95 in Virginia

5 a.m.: Montgomery County Government offices and departments will open on Tuesday, Jan. 4, according to their normal operating schedules. Montgomery County-operated COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics will also open at their scheduled times on Jan. 4.

3 a.m.: About 150,000 people are still without power according to PEPCO and Dominion Energy outage maps early Tuesday. Dominion Energy said in a tweet that crews would be working throughout the night to restore power, but said those in the areas hardest hit by the storm to prepare for the possibility of being without power for multiple days.

Monday

11 p.m.: Here's an announcement from Montgomery County Recreation about some programs that are not canceled for Tuesday:

10:48 p.m.: Prince William County government announced its "unscheduled leave policy" for employees on Tuesday.

10:43 p.m.: In Spotsylvania, more than 31,000 customers of Dominion Energy and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative are without power. The local government has opened more warming centers to help families. Click here to read the press release for more information.

10:36 p.m.: There are significant traffic backups along I-95 in both directions through Fredericksburg and Stafford County areas as Virginia State Police is investigating 71 disabled vehicles and 32 crashes. Avoid that area when driving.

10:34 p.m.: DC government opens at 11 a.m. for employees scheduled to work in person; essential workers are to report to duty as scheduled; anyone assigned to telework should continue to do so.

10:30 p.m.: Federal agencies are opening on a 3-hour delay schedule Tuesday. Here's more information:

9:52 p.m.: Amtrak trains traveling to and from the DMV area are experiencing significant delays because of downed trees and snowy weather. Here are some updates from Amtrak on Twitter:

9:46 p.m.: American University announced it is opening at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

9:35 p.m.: Virginia Railway Express announced all of its VRE commuter rail trains will not run Tuesday due to operating issues and hazardous weather conditions.

9:30 p.m.: Update to the crash involving a snowplow on Columbia Pike at Briggs Chaney Road--Montgomery County police say a car collided with the back of a snowplow, causing three people to become entrapped in the vehicle. Three female victims died from the crash and a male was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, per MCPD.

Latest on the crash: Three dead after car collides into back of snowplow in Montgomery County

8:09 p.m.: Montgomery County Public Schools are closed Tuesday due to icy conditions. After-school activities in school buildings are also canceled. Administrative offices will open on a two-hour delay. Daycare opens at 9 a.m.

7:18 p.m.: Prince George's County Public Schools are closed Tuesday; there will be no virtual learning. PGCPS says meal distribution for students resumes on Wednesday and Thursday.

7:14 p.m.: Traffic heading northbound on Route 29 Columbia Pike at Briggs Chaney Road is being redirected to Fairland Road as MCFRS is responding to a collision that left three people entrapped in a vehicle. Pete Piringer, the spokesperson for MCFRS, says the crash involved a snowplow. All three people were extricated and they are being evaluated for serious injuries.

Latest on the crash: Three dead after car collides into back of snowplow in Montgomery County

6:22 p.m.: Loudoun County Public Schools will not open schools for class on Tuesday. Administrative offices will open at 12 p.m. All LCPS employees who are eligible to telework are encouraged to do so.

5:44 p.m.: A major crash involving tractor-trailers has impacted traffic on I-95 in Stafford County, with motorists backed up for miles on the interstate during rush-hour traffic. Vehicles are disabled between Courthouse Road and Centreport Parkway, according to VDOT officials.

5:05 p.m.: Updated snowfall amounts are coming into our WUSA9 weather team. Here are a few that may interest you. Including how much snow accumulation was seen outside our station. (Click here for more snowfall totals for communities in our region)

4:50 p.m.: Virginia Department of Health community vaccination centers to be closed Tuesday due to snow and expected freezing temperatures, according to the department in a statement Monday. 

4:32 p.m.: The adorable 16-month-old panda, Xiao Qi Ji, enjoyed the first major snowfall in D.C. this afternoon at the Smithsonian National Zoo. It was around this time last year that he experienced snow for the first time!

4:03 p.m.: PEPCO in D.C. says there are 3,752 residents with current outages, according to AlertDC system.

3:50 p.m.: VDOT has said that portions of I-64 and I-95 remain shut down in VA due to weather conditions and lane blockages. Additionally, NB Express lanes of I-95/395 will be shut down for 4 hours today for snow clearing

3:37 p.m.: The sun is starting to come out across DC, Maryland and Virginia. It's bumping up outside temps and melting snow that's on roads and sidewalks. This is concerning for icy road conditions that could be a problem later tonight and into Tuesday morning. Temps are expected to drop into the teens.

3:15 p.m.: The ground stoppage at Reagan National (DCA) was lifted shortly after 3 p.m., according to the FAA.

3:07 p.m.: More than 200,000 customers are without power across the DMV are without power according to PEPCO and Dominion Energy. 

PEPCO is reporting more than 15,000 customers are without power, while Dominion Energy is reporting more than 146,000 customers are without power due to a winter storm.

2:28 p.m.: Prince William County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools have also closed their schools for Tuesday due to the impacts of this winter storm.

2:20: A ground stoppage for Reagan National (DCA) continues to be in effect as workers at the airport clear runways blanketed by snow. 

1:57 p.m.: Stafford County and Fredericksburg (VA) Public Schools are closed Tuesday due to the impacts of the winter weather system that has moved through our region.

1:46 p.m.: The Washington DC Snowball Fight Association announced on Facebook that there will be a snowball fight at the Smithsonian Castle at 3:30 p.m. until Dusk for the D.C. community. Masks and social distancing encouraged. 

1:31 p.m.: Fairfax County Public Schools is closed for Tuesday as school districts across the region will start to assess how to handle the potential impacts of heavy snowfall in the DMV region. 

1:20 p.m.: 436,056 customers in Virginia are without power, according to the most recent numbers released from Dominion Energy.

1:12 p.m.: WMATA confirms they are investigating reports of light smoke at the Metro Center Station in Northwest D.C. and says the weather conditions likely contributed to the issue. 

1 p.m.: Winter Weather Advisory that was enacted by the National Weather Service has expired as snow has stopped falling in most of the DMV region as the winter weather system makes its way out of our area.

12:31 p.m.: Snow crews take to the runways at Reagan National (DCA) as a ground stoppage was issued around 11 a.m. due to snow accumulation on the runways that threaten air traffic safety at the airport. 

12:12 p.m.: NO SLEDDING AT CAPITOL HILL, for now: Families are being told by Capitol snow teams to stay off the hill because of heavy snow snapping tree branches. 

11:52 a.m.: A ground stop has been issued at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and BWI outside of Baltimore to remove snow from runways, according to MWAA. Significant cancellations and delays have been seen at all three major airports in the DMV region.

11:46 a.m.: New snowfall totals are coming in for parts of the DMV region. The latest numbers show significant measurements. Such as over 11 inches in Waldorf, Maryland, and 10 inches in Fredericksburg and Falmouth, Virginia.

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11:23 a.m.: President Joe Biden had to ride by car to the White House from Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland. Forgoing transportation by helicopter from Marine One due to the significant winter weather.

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11:07 a.m.: Virginia State Police has responded to 313 traffic crashes and aided 277 disabled/stuck motorists since 12:01 a.m. Monday through 10:30 a.m. Monday. The majority of those crashes have involved only damage to vehicles. There have been no reported fatalities at this time. As of 10:30 a.m., state police are currently responding to 137 traffic crashes and 119 disabled/stuck vehicles across the state.

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10:50 a.m.: All three major airports in the DMV region are reporting significant cancellations and delays:

(Check specific flights in the hyperlinks for each airport)

10:40 a.m.: Alexandria has reported that DASH bus service is temporarily suspended to due worsening road conditions. DASH will continue monitoring conditions and provide updates as they become available.

10:30 a.m.: The overturned bus at MD-4 and Skinners Turn Road, reported by Calvert Co. Sheriff, has not caused any injuries. Only the driver was on board and a deputy gave him a ride back to base, the office confirmed. 

Drivers beware: road conditions are bad in the area.

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10:20 a.m.: PEPCO is now reporting more than 4,000 customers affected by outages in Maryland and D.C. Dominion Energy is reporting more than 142,000 customers affected in Virginia.

10:15 a.m.: Below are the latest snowfall totals from the WUSA9 weather team.

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9:50 a.m.: DC Health has announced that, due to the Snow Emergency and the storm forecast timeline getting pushed back, all COVID-19 testing is canceled for today. Per the Council, this includes rapid test pickup at firehouses.

9:45 a.m.: A multi-vehicle crash on MD-214 eastbound/westbound at Soper Lane in Prince George's County, MD has left all lanes reportedly blocked. "Follow police directions in the area. Delays are building," Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination stated. 

9:35 a.m.: D.C.'s Metrobus is temporarily suspending service immediately, due to rapidly deteriorating weather and hazardous road conditions throughout the region. All buses currently in operation with customers will operate to the end of the line to complete their routes if safe to do so. All other buses will hold at stops until roads are passable and safe to resume service.

The update also includes circulator service.

9:20 a.m.: Loudoun Co. confirms that Harry Byrd Highway has been shut down near Blueridge Mountain Road due to multiple vehicles blocking the road in Bluemont.

9:15 a.m.: Due to weather, all Smithsonian museums in the D.C. area and the National Zoo are closed Monday. 

The pandas sure aren't wasting the snow day, though. Watch them play by clicking here!

9:12 a.m.: The Prince George's Commuter Bus service has been suspended due to deteriorating road conditions in the County. The service has been suspended until further notice, allowing the road crews a chance to treat the roads. "We will provide further updates if service resumes or if we suspend for the rest of the day," the county said.

Calvert Co. Sheriff reporting overturned bus at MD-4 and Skinners Turn Road.

9 a.m.: 27,160 customers are without power in Virginia, according to Dominion Energy's outage map. 

Just over 130 outages have been reported so far in D.C. and Maryland by PEPCO. 

8:50 a.m.: Prince William County government offices are closed due to "deteriorating travel conditions."

Alexandria has announced that, due to hazardous conditions, the southbound lanes of Quaker Lane from Duke Street to Seminary Road are closed. Drivers will need to find alternative routes.

RELATED: Snow in DC right now. Here is the latest radar & forecast

6:45 a.m.: Calvert County Public Schools are closed Monday. 

6 a.m.: More local schools announce closures.

Frederick Co. Schools (VA) - Closed

Fauquier Co. Schools - Now a teacher workday from home, all offices closed.

Winchester Public Schools - Closed

Clarke Co. Schools - Closed

5:30 a.m.: Culpeper County Public Schools are closed Monday.

5:15 a.m.: Loudoun County Public Schools are closed Monday

Replay Video

5:05 a.m.: FlightAware is reporting several cancelations and delays at Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. 

RELATED: 2022 starts with thousands of canceled US flights

RELATED: Tips for achieving worry-free travel in another pandemic winter

5:00 a.m.: Charles County Schools are closed Monday. More closings here.

4:45 a.m.: Snowflakes seen accumulating in D.C.

RELATED: Winter storm preps bring busy day for local hardware stores

4:30 a.m.: Road crews began preparing for the morning commute.

RELATED: Northern Virginia prepares for winter's first snowfall

4 a.m.: Rain began transitioning to snow in the D.C. area.

3:30 a.m.: Montgomery County Public Schools are closed Monday.

Sunday

10:55 p.m. Prince George's County announces schools are closed Monday. 

10:36 p.m. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a snow emergency in beginning at midnight until 7 p.m. Monday. The District Snow Team is also deploying at midnight on Monday. Bowser also announced that Safe Return operations at DC Public Schools will shift one day. Schools will be closed on Monday.  DCPS students must now test on Wednesday.  Schools are scheduled to re-open on Thursday.

District Government will operate in a telework posture for non-essential/non-emergency employees. Essential employees will report for duty as previously scheduled unless otherwise directed. All in-person programming at DC Government agencies will be closed. Virtual appointments and online services will continue unless otherwise stated. 

10:02 p.m. The federal government announced its offices in D.C. are closed Monday, 

9:19 p.m. With snow on the way, Takoma Park police is reminding the public that if you see someone in need of shelter, to call police or, if in Montgomery County, the Community Crisis Center at 240-777-4000.

Montgomery County issues a hypothermia alert from 10 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday. To report people or pets needing help getting out of the cold, call 301-279-8000.

9:01 p.m. VRE announces it will only run trains with an "S" on its schedule on Monday. Train schedules can be viewed here: https://www.vre.org/service/schedules/

8:24 p.m. Metrobus will be operating on a severe snow service plan Monday. Bus service will be limited to major roads only. Delays and increased wait times are likely, and travel is strongly discouraged unless absolutely necessary. All service could be suspended if road and weather conditions worsen and travel becomes unsafe. Consider Metrorail as an alternative when possible. No weather-related impacts to Metrorail are anticipated at this time. De-icer trains will be deployed and heaters activated to keep the railway free of snow and ice.

7:37 p.m. Montgomery County Schools will be closed Monday. Daycare programs in schools may open at 9 a.m. /closings

7:32 p.m. The Virginia Department of Health is closing all of its community vaccination centers on Monday. People who had appointments can visit  vase.vdh.virginia.gov to reschedule.

7:27 p.m. Prince George's County is reminding residents to park on the same side of the street to allow the snowplows to get through. Routes are prioritized for service by the following categories: primary, secondary and residential. Primary and secondary roads are serviced first to allow public safety and emergency vehicles to get through. The county asks residents to wait 48 hours after snowfall has ended before reporting concerns regarding untreated roadways to 3-1-1.

7:14 p.m. Several state-run COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites in Maryland will be closed tomorrow. Closed sites include one at Prince George’s County  City of Praise Family Ministries. 

7:01 p.m. Bundle up tomorrow. Freezing temps are back. 

5:52 p.m. Fairfax County Public Schools is the latest district to announce they will not open tomorrow for class. Check to see if your school district is closed here: WUSA9.com/closings 

5:36 p.m.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the State of Maryland has activated a government-wide response to prepare for an incoming winter storm. Most of Maryland is under winter weather advisories and warnings, and the National Weather Service has expanded potential snowfall totals over the course of the day.

“I urge Marylanders to stay tuned to their local forecasts for the latest updates on road conditions and potential closures, heed the guidance of state and local authorities, and use common sense,” Hogan said.

5:11 p.m.

Say goodbye to the unseasonably warm weather. A cold front is moving in.

5:05 p.m. - More area schools are starting to cancel classes tomorrow. Check out the list as it updates here: WUSA9.com/closings

4:27 p.m. - First school closing announced

Prince William County Public Schools announced it will be closed Monday because of winter weather conditions. This includes virtual classes.

4:24 p.m. - 

WUSA9 Chief Meteorologist Topper Shutt says the winter storm warning has now been expanded to include Montgomery and Fairfax counties. Expect heavy snow.

3:55 p.m. - Snow Estimates

WUSA9 meteorologist Chester Lampkin says we'll see 1-3 inches of snow in the winter weather advisory areas, and 3-8 inches of snow in the winter storm warning areas:

3:48 p.m. - DC Snow Plow Tracker

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the city's snow team deploys at midnight tonight with more than 100 snow plows active.

You can see where the plows have been and where they're heading with the tracker here: Track our plows

3:17 p.m. - Winter Storm Warnings

WUSA9 meteorologist Kaitlyn McGrath relates that local winter storm warnings are now expanded to include DC and surrounding counties.

2:30 p.m. - Follow the WUSA9 weather team on social

Stay updated with latest forecast and area impacts with our WUSA9 weather team here:

Chief Meteorologist Topper Shutt: https://twitter.com/TenaciousTopper

Meteorologist Chester Lampkin: https://twitter.com/chesterlampkin

Meteorologist Miri Marshall: https://twitter.com/MiriWeather

Meteorologist Kaitlyn McGrath: https://twitter.com/KaitlynMcGrath

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