Town of Herndon-The Dhakal family: Aavya, 3, Aaryav, 6, Grandmother Manju, Aayan, 8, and Dad Pradip “They do enjoy playing with the snow. It is so much fun for them and us to play with them,” says Pradip.
Winter Storm Blair produced snowflakes and snow-covered expanses for some of Northern Virginia’s youngest, Frozen movie-era children who have been waiting years for the magic of gliding down a hill or tasting a snowflake. The area’s first significant snowstorm in three years arrived in the region Monday morning, followed by a second round later that evening continuing into Tuesday.
Residents of Northern Virginia heard and felt the impact of Blair, howling winds, and heavy snow accumulations of 6-9 inches reported across the region by the National Weather Service.
The storm closed schools and federal offices on Monday and shut down runways at Reagan National Airport on Monday evening. With the snow continuing overnight, schools canceled classes again for Tuesday. Federal government offices also closed Tuesday.
Sledding Slopes of Fairfax County
According to the National Weather Service, the snow is expected to stay for a while with temperatures forecast to remain below freezing and will more snow likely on Friday evening.
VisitFairfax.com offers the following list of the seven best sledding spots in Fairfax County:
* Westgate Park, located in McLean and adjacent to Westgate Elementary School
* "Mount Reston," as locals affectionately know it, is behind the Unitarian Church on Wiehle Avenue
* Chosen by the Fairfax County Park Authority as one of the best places in Fairfax County to go sledding, the Mason District Park in Annandale
* Meadowood Stables at 10406 Gunston Rd., Lorton
* Cardinal Forest Park is a tucked-away Springfield gem at 6121 Roxbury Avenue
* Jefferson Manor Park, a county-run park at 2909 Farmington Drive, Alexandria
* Lake Fairfax Park, 400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston
No sled? Perhaps improvise with innertubes and foam flats for the pool, a smooth mat for an office chair, a baby pool, an air mattress, an outdoor vinyl chair or lounge cushion, or even a large piece of cardboard with the front bent up. However, be cautious with whatever you use. Always check for rocks, water, and trees. Consider wearing a bike helmet and ski goggles. So get the slow cooker out, drop in dinner, fill a thermos with hot cocoa and hit the slopes of Fairfax County with friends and family.
