Do you know where your forecast comes from ? We hope 9 News Now and/or wusa9.com is your source for weather information. For VDOT it is not. In fact they pay a private company that in turn provides them with forecasts and weather information upon which they, VDOT base their decisions. If you live in Virginia your tax dollars are paying this company for its forecasts. This is not an uncommon practice; most counties and the District hire private firms that provide them with forecasts. I’m not sure how VDOT was caught off guard. Montgomery County and the District had the trucks out in plenty of time to salt and treat the roads. VDOT had over two hundred and fifty trucks out and about Tuesday morning. None were sent to the mixing bowl. On Monday our forecasts predicted freezing rain late Tuesday morning and early Tuesday afternoon. Yes, we went highs 32 to 36 but said by the time the temp climbed above freezing the damage would be done. The National Weather Service also warned about freezing rain in the Metro Area, including Fairfax County. By Tuesday morning we lowered our highs to 30 – 35 keeping the cold air in longer. The National Weather Service also warned of freezing rain in their mid morning update. We also made a point during our broadcasts on Monday and Tuesday that this was not a snow event for the immediate Metro Area but rather sleet and freezing rain and that it doesn’t take much freezing rain to make a mess. When the VDOT spokesperson says the forecasts were wrong he/she is actually referring to the forecasts they pay for and not Channel 9 forecasts. Here are links to related stories.

VDOT Apologizes To Motorists

Freezing Rain Hinders Travel, Delays Federal Government  ¶ 7:14 PM