First snow of La Niña winter blasts millions in mid-Atlantic, unleashing hazardous travel conditions
Snowfall totals could reach 4 inches through Friday night in Roanoke and Blacksburg, Virginia. Winter Weather Advisories are also in effect for Washington, DC, and Baltimore.
Federal Flakes: First measurable snow of the season reaches Washington
The first measurable snow of the season has reached Washington, D.C., in line with a very active start to winter. Delays and closures have been reported across the DMV, FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne has the story on Capitol Hill.
RICHMOND, Va. — More than 16 million people were under Winter Weather Advisories in the mid-Atlantic on Friday morning, waking up to their first snow of the season in parts of Virginia and Maryland, which created slick travel conditions and delaying school openings across the region.
Schools were closed in Richmond, Virginia on Friday, and schools throughout the Washington, D.C. area were either canceled or operating with delays.
SAY IT AIN'T SNOW ❄️: Millions across the Mid-Atlantic are seeing their first snow of the season this morning as snow begins to accumulate in Richmond, Virginia. FOX Weather reports LIVE from Richmond, Virginia and Washington D.C. with the latest #snow #winter #foxweather pic.twitter.com/6RFG31QGfD
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) December 5, 2025
The heaviest snow is expected in southern Virginia, including Richmond and Roanoke. Snowfall totals could reach 4 inches through Friday night in Roanoke and Blacksburg; Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for southern Virginia and northern North Carolina.
(FOX Weather)
Winter Weather Advisories are also in effect for Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, where a coating to 1 inch of snow is expected through Friday morning.
WHAT IS A WINTER STORM WARNING?
Parts of Virginia, as well as northern North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware, are all forecast to see their first snow of the season from this event.
Snow cancels school in Virginia, as first winter storm of the season clips Mid-Atlantic
The first snow of the season canceled school in Richmond, Virginia. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell spoke to kids out enjoying the winter flakes.
While computer forecast models have backed off the amount of ice and freezing rain expected from this storm, slick conditions will still be present for drivers in western North Carolina, along Interstate 26.
DASHCAM: FIRST RESPONDERS LEAP OUT OF RECKLESS DRIVER'S WAY DURING NORTH DAKOTA BLIZZARD
A tractor-trailer jackknifed on Interstate 95 in Richmond Friday morning closing the southbound lanes. The road has since reopened.
(VDOT / FOX Weather)
A tractor-trailer jackknifed on Interstate 95 in Richmond Friday morning, amid slick conditions, closing the southbound lanes. The road has since reopened.
Drivers will have to monitor a glaze of ice Friday evening in some locations, potentially creating a drastically different evening commute home, as compared to conditions in the morning.
Those who will be traveling along Interstates 26, 95, 91, 40, 85 and 77 on Friday and into the weekend should monitor the latest weather forecasts.
(FOX Weather)
This comes as a lobe of artic air has reached the Northeast and funneled south over the Appalachians, ushering in the coldest temperatures of early meteorological winter thus far for some locales.
Temperatures for places like Richmond will remain in the low 30s through Friday night.