With yet another mild winter coming to an end, it’s becoming difficult to recollect the last time Fauquier County had a blizzard. According to NOVEC Virginia’s Historic Snowstorms, the last near-blizzard affecting our area happened in 2016. This season, Fauquier County received three passing bouts of winter weather. The first was on Dec. 15 (ice, rain and snow), the second was on Feb. 1 (snow) and the third was on Feb. 25 (snow).

On Feb. 21, warm temperatures broke records all across the East Coast; Dulles International Airport recorded a high temperature of 80° on Feb. 21. According to the National Weather Service Eastern Region Twitter, the previous record temperature for Feb. 21 was 70° in 1997.

These warm winter patterns pose questions about built-in school snow days. When Superintendent David Jeck was asked if FCPS1 would reduce or eradicate the amount of allotted snow days he said, “No…In the past years, if we’ve had no or only a few snow days we have adjusted the end of the year calendar.” Jeck also mentioned that the decision regarding the school calendar is managed by the School Board. FCPS1.org provides the plan for make-up days and snow days at the bottom of the school year calendar.