Weather Service warned VDOT of heavy snow threat ahead of I-95 disaster

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Capital Weather Gang

Weather Service warned VDOT of heavy snow threat ahead of I-95 disaster



An icy stretch of Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, Va., on Jan 3. (Virginia Department of Transportation/Reuters)

By Jason Samenow
Today at 8:00 a.m. EST

Before and during the crippling snowstorm that brought traffic to a standstill on Interstate 95 on Jan. 3, the National Weather Service made information available about the heavy snow threat to the Virginia Department of Transportation on multiple occasions.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on I-95 between Jan. 3 and 4 near Fredericksburg, some for over 24 hours without food, water and other essential supplies.

Materials provided to The Washington Post by the Weather Service show that VDOT was sent forecast information and invited to briefings in which the strong possibility of heavy snowfall was conveyed. VDOT was also briefed about the storm threat by DTN, a private company based in Minnesota that does forecast consulting for transportation agencies, among other customers.

[After I-95 fiasco, a ‘road weather’ expert digs into snow, ice and jackknifed trucks]

Weather Service offices in Sterling and Wakefield, Va., which cover northern and central parts of the state, both emailed briefing materials to VDOT and included them in video conference calls.

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By Jason Samenow
Jason Samenow is The Washington Post’s weather editor and Capital Weather Gang's chief meteorologist. He earned a master's degree in atmospheric science and spent 10 years as a climate change science analyst for the U.S. government. He holds the Digital Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association. Twitter https://twitter.com/capitalweather