UPDATED: Closures and winter weather storm information

Closures/Delays

• The University of Mary Washington opens at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8th.
• Germanna Community College will open on Wednesday, January 8th at 12 p.m.
• Stafford County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday, January 8th.
• Spotsylvania County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday, January 8th.
• King George County Schools will be closed Wednesday, January 8th.
• Caroline County Schools will remain closed on Wednesday, January 8th.
• Fredericksburg City Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8th.
• The Fredericksburg General District Court will open on Tuesday, January 7th with a postponed opening time. The General District Clerk’s office and court begins at 10 a.m
• All offices, facilities and courts in Spotsylvania County will be open at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, with employees exempt following the delayed opening. The Marshall Park Convenience Center remains closed.
• All Stafford offices, departments, county and general district courts and facilities will open on Tuesday, January 7, with a two-hour delay. District and general district courts will open at 10:00 a.m. and proceedings will begin at 11:00 a.m
• VRE will have no service on Monday, January 6th. AER will review and advise of any closures or delays for Tuesday, January 7th.

(Editor’s note: These entries will be updated as additional closures are received.)

Forecasts from meteorologist Sean Sublette

A state of emergency was declared in Virginia

On Friday, Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in the commonwealth. The notice included several “personal preparation measures.” This includes:

• During a winter storm, stay off the road as much as possible and only drive if absolutely necessary. Always give way to snow plows and emergency services.
• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal burning appliance in your home, garage, basement, crawl space, or other partially enclosed area.
• Shoveling snow is a known trigger for heart attacks. Always avoid overexertion when shoveling.
• During severe weather, plan to check on elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives.
• If you must travel, check road conditions before leaving home.
• Visit 511.vdot.virginia.gov, check the 511 Virginia mobile app, or call 511 while in Virginia for road and traffic conditions.
• Protect yourself from frostbite. Hands, feet and face are the most commonly affected areas. Therefore, wear a hat and mittens (which are warmer than gloves) and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.
• Keep dry. Change wet clothing regularly to prevent loss of body heat.
• Wear multiple layers of loose-fitting, light, warm clothing rather than a single layer of heavy clothing.

Prepare your home

• Make sure your home is properly insulated
• Check the weatherstripping around your windows and doors
• Learn how to close water valves if a pipe bursts
• Have additional heat sources available in case of a power outage
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy
• Replace your carbon monoxide detector batteries annually

Prepare your car

• When temperatures drop, batteries lose performance. Be sure to have your batteries tested
• Check your car’s antifreeze level
• Have your radiator system serviced
• Replace your car’s windshield wiper fluid with a winter blend
• Proactively replace your car’s worn tires and wiper blades
• To improve visibility, clean your car completely – including the trunk, roof, windows and headlights
• Please heed warnings to avoid travel. If you absolutely must get out and about, prepare your vehicle and have equipment ready for you and your passengers. This may include items such as: blankets; Drinking water and snacks for everyone in the car, including pets; Boots; Basic first aid kit; Warm coat and insulating layers (sweatpants, gloves, hat, socks)
  rags, paper towels or moistened cloths; Basic tool kit; emergency warning devices for cars such as road flares or reflectors; ice scraper/snow brush; jumper cable/jump starter; fire extinguishers; Checkout; items for children such as diapers, baby wipes, toys, etc.; flashlight, with additional batteries; hand warmers; paper card; Portable smartphone power bank; Additional medications; garbage bags; traction aids such as sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter; tarpaulin, raincoat and gloves; shovel

To learn more about how you, your family and your business can prepare for winter weather, visit www.vaemergency.gov/winter-weather. For real-time traffic information anywhere in the state, dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.vdot.virginia.gov.