Photo of City snowplow and front loader working together to clear the roads.

A snowstorm to remember

According to the National Weather Service, Falls Church received about 8.5 inches of snow between January 24 and 25—not an impressive amount by historical standards. However, the combination of heavy snow followed by hail and sleet left a 4 to 5-inch-thick icy crust that made it particularly challenging to dig out from this snowstorm. Two weeks of below freezing temperatures provided no relief.

Residents were chipping at the icy surface with shovels, hoes, axes, lawn edgers, and root diggers. Neighbors compared notes on which garden tools worked best, shared tools and traded tips on the best techniques. Residents in multifamily buildings and open parking lots were at a disadvantage as they did not have many heavy-duty tools to use to free their cars. This was not a storm for plastic snow shovels.

Residents also noticed that City plows were slow to show up to clear their streets. When they did, many roads were left with single lanes and rows of large icy boulders on either side. It took the City four days to reach every street and open up at least a one-lane passage.

The City Manager’s snow report

Snowplow and front loader working to clear the road after the 2026 snowstorm.

City Manager Wyatt Shields acknowledged the difficulties crews had clearing the roads after this snowstorm. In his report to City Council on January 27, 2026, he said the City had been in a state of emergency since 5:00 p.m. Saturday, January 24. City staff worked in shifts around the clock to respond to this snowstorm. Crews stayed in local hotels for the first three nights to be able to rest and easily return to work.

The Department of Parks and Recreation had a team of five people responsible for clearing the sidewalks around the public buildings. The Department of Public Works (DPW) had a total of 14 people working with heavy equipment to clear the roads.

Mr. Shields said that the job of clearing the snow from the roadways has been slow-going, and he asked the community for patience. Crews have had to first break up the snow with ice breakers before snowplows could push the snow away. On the City’s narrow residential streets with cars parked on either side, a front loader is needed to pick up the snow and find places to pile it up. Mr. Shields told the Council that staff hadn’t gotten to all the smaller townhouse public streets yet. On January 28, the next day, the City announced that the crews had finally reached every street in the City.

Mr. Shields commended community members for their efforts to clear the sidewalks in front of their properties. He said the City is not enforcing its ordinance for clearing sidewalks because they don’t have the staffing resources to do so. Usually, the police would stop by to talk to those who have failed to clear their sidewalks, but they are experiencing call volumes that are higher than usual for Public Safety and DPW, with many people wanting information about plowing.

First trash pickup after the 2026 snowstorm. Photo of trash truck. — Solid waste pickup was delayed two days to allow crews to clear streets.

Mr. Shields said that the next phase of snow removal will give priority to clearing areas around the schools and ensuring that students are able to get on and off buses and walk safely. Beyond that, staff will focus on access to businesses by clearing sidewalks.

Trash and recycling pickups were delayed from Wednesday, January 28, to Friday, January 30. However, DPW subsequently announced that American Disposal Systems (ADS) was unable to collect trash and recycling on some City streets due to snow and ice. If items were not picked up, DPW asked residents to hold them until the following week.

City Council thanks City staff

Council members expressed their appreciation for the staff working 24 hours a day to clear the roads. Council Member Marybeth Connelly said that while she appreciated the information on the City’s website about the City’s phases of response, “we need to try to figure out a way that people aren’t having to answer as many phone calls.”

Pedestrian after the snowstrom of 2026. — Pedestrians navigating ridges of snow.

Council Member David Snyder asked Mr. Shields to prioritize the mountains of snow at intersections that prevent people from crossing the street even though the sidewalks are shoveled.

Council Member Arthur Agin asked if Public Safety could address the enforcement issue after the emergency is over. He suggested talking to the “repeat offenders” who fail to clear their sidewalks, both residential and commercial.

If there was a bright spot to this snow, it was excellent for making igloos, as Meridian High School freshmen Connor Fine and Drew Gudenberg demonstrated.