Snow is expected to begin before dawn on Friday, December 5, in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has warned that these conditions could lead to hazardous roads during the morning commute.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all 14 counties in the Fredericksburg District. Light snow is forecasted to fall during the morning hours when pavement temperatures are below freezing, which may result in dangerous travel conditions.
“The safest choice is to avoid travel when snow and ice are present on the road,” VDOT stated. They advise travelers to check road conditions on 511Virginia for their entire planned route before starting a trip, as other regions of Virginia may experience more severe weather.
Light snow may continue throughout Friday and into the evening commute. A mix of wintry precipitation is expected in the early evening, potentially causing isolated icy patches. Any wet pavement remaining overnight into Saturday morning could refreeze as temperatures drop below freezing.
VDOT crews began pretreating Interstate 95 and major roads in the district ahead of the storm. Pretreatment helps prevent ice from bonding with road surfaces and aids snow removal efforts. Once snowfall starts, crews will apply sand and salt; plowing operations generally commence after two inches of accumulation.
Crews will start 24-hour emergency operations at midnight Thursday to ensure equipment is ready for spreading materials or plowing snow. Elevated surfaces such as bridges, ramps, and overpasses are likely to become slippery first due to lower surface temperatures.
Parking at certain Park and Ride commuter lots will be limited on Friday due to winter weather operations. Specifically, parking spaces will be reduced at Route 17 in Stafford County and Route 1 at Commonwealth Drive in Spotsylvania County because VDOT uses these lots for staging plows working on I-95. The lots remain open but with fewer available spaces; message boards will alert users about this change before Thursday’s evening commute.
Travelers can get current road condition updates from 511Virginia, access resources through VDOT’s social media channels, or contact the VDOT Customer Service Center around-the-clock with questions or reports of hazardous roads. Drivers are also encouraged to keep an emergency supply kit in their vehicles at all times and review guidance on winter driving provided by VDOT.
