Falls Church City and Fairfax County Public Schools Issue Weather Closure Alert

The expected snow in the region means no school for both City of Falls Church Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools. Here are their alerts sent out last night and this morning.

Tuesday, at 5 a.m. on Facebook, FCCPS sent out this message:

"Due to the impending winter weather, the Falls Church City Public Schools are closed, Tuesday, January 21st for students and staff.

FCCPS Day Care is closed."

All afternoon and evening school activities are cancelled.

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Fairfax County sent out this message Monday evening.: 

A message from FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
All Fairfax County public schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Offices will be open with an unscheduled leave policy in effect. 

The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled: 

• extracurricular activities
• interscholastic contests 
• team practices 
• field trips 
• middle school after-school programs 
• professional learning and training courses 
• all adult and community education classes 
• recreation programs and community use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS 

 School Age Child Care (SACC) centers are closed.

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Weather forecasters predict a 100 percent chance of snow Tuesday, with up to 5 inches or more hitting Fairfax County. A three-day weekend may turn into four days off for the kids.

Tuesday's weather forecast in Fairfax County calls for snow and temperatures falling into the single digits and below zero Tuesday night with wind chills.

See: National Weather Service Issues Winter Storm Warning

Fairfax County Schools will not make an announcement if schools start at regular times. First alerts for closings or delays are posted on the school district Web site and FCPS on Facebook.

The district also offers the info: 

• On Twitter.
• Posted on TV Channel 21 (Cox Communications, Reston Comcast and Verizon cable customers only).
• Sent via e-mail to parents, employees, and KIT Plus subscribers of Delayed Openings and School Closings through the Keep in Touch e-mail notification system.
• Called in to area radio and television stations.
• Sent via text message to Keep in Touch Plus subscribers who have opted to receive alerts about Delayed Openings and School Closings.

In laying out the decision process when schools are closed or delayed, the district notes:

The school system understands that its students are better served — both academically and socially — by being in school. On the other hand, the school system knows that it operates within an area whose transportation system has difficulty operating efficiently even when the weather is perfect. 

Fairfax County’s transportation system includes high speed, high volume roadways such as Route 66, Route 495, Route 95, the Fairfax County Parkway, and others. The county’s transportation system also includes narrow, winding roads in still relatively rural parts of the county such as Clifton and Great Falls.