Hazardous Conditions as Winter Storm Fern Cripples D.C. Traffic and Transit

Winter Storm Fern Brings Dangerous Travel Conditions

Commuters and residents across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area are advised to stay off the roads today, Sunday, January 25, 2026, as Winter Storm Fern continues to impact the region. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through early Monday morning, with meteorologists forecasting total snow and sleet accumulations between 7 and 14 inches. The addition of significant ice accumulation—up to two-tenths of an inch—has made major arteries like I-495, I-66, and I-95 extremely treacherous.

Local authorities, including the Metropolitan Police Department and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), have issued urgent travel advisories. Motorists who must travel should expect slow movement and visibility issues. Snow removal crews are active across the District, but the heavy precipitation and freezing rain are making it difficult to maintain clear lanes on secondary roads. Emergency response teams have already reported several incidents involving vehicles sliding off roadways in the northern and western suburbs.

Public Transportation Service Disruptions

Public transit options are severely limited today due to the extreme weather conditions. Commuters should take note of the following major service changes:

• Fairfax Connector: All bus service has been suspended for the duration of the day. Service is not expected to resume until Monday morning at the earliest, pending a safety assessment.
• Metrorail: While the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) has canceled all scheduled weekend track work to focus on storm response, riders should expect significant weather-related delays on all lines. De-icing trains are operating across the system to keep tracks clear.
• Metrobus: Service is currently operating on a route-by-route basis. Many routes have been moved to snow detours or have been temporarily suspended. Riders are encouraged to check the live status before heading to their stop.
• DC Streetcar: As of early January 2026, Sunday service for the DC Streetcar has been eliminated. No streetcar service will be available today.

Long-Term Projects and Infrastructure Alerts

In addition to the weather-related disruptions, several long-term infrastructure projects continue to affect the daily commute. On the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (I-66), traffic remains reduced to only three lanes as part of ongoing structural repairs. At the Navy Yard-Ballpark Station, the Half Street entrance remains closed for a major escalator replacement project scheduled to last through March 2026; passengers are directed to use the New Jersey Avenue SE entrance.

Furthermore, several city facilities and regional attractions, including Alexandria libraries and historic museums, are closed today in response to the local emergency declaration. We recommend that residents stay home and avoid all non-essential travel until the storm passes and road crews can adequately treat the ice.