High Wind Watch Upgrade and Advisories

 The high wind watch got upgraded to a warning for our northern areas, and almost all of the DMV(other than northern areas) are in a wind advisory. Let me show you the map.

Areas in the light blue/cyan are in a freeze watch(not our area). Areas in the light brown are in the wind advisory(includes DC, Southern MoCo). Areas in the orangish-brown are in a high wind warning. In the high wind warning, you can expect northwest winds sustained at 20-35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. In the wind advisory, expect northwest winds sustained at 20-30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. For areas in the high wind warning, widespread power outages are expected, winds will blow down trees and power lines, and travel will be made much more difficult for high profile vehicles. If you are near the high wind warning(less than 2 miles away), I would recommend preparing for the same impacts as areas in the high wind warning. You may even see winds that of those of the high wind warning. In the wind advisory, isolated power outages may occur, and tree limbs + unsecured objects may be blown around. No matter where you are, it will be bad regardless. 

What about school? The whole county isn't under a high wind warning but the northern part is, and if one part of the county closes, the other has too. Will we see in-person people going virtual, or even no virtual instruction? That depends on how much power outages there are, and if the winds will be strong enough to cause widespread power outages. The last time school closed for high wind was in March 2nd, 2018, where wind gusted up to 80 mph in some areas(up to 70 mph was expected)! At it's peak, over 500k people in our area did not have power! It was quite crazy. We had sustained winds of 20-30 mph winds that day, and similar sustained winds are expected, with slightly more potential. I am not sure if there will be strong enough winds to recreate that large of an impact. However, trees and power lines have already taken quite a beating this year from other storms, from severe storms to winter weather storms, with ice and snow pilling on the trees and wearing them down. We have also had many wind advisories this year, as an addition. A lot of my trees in my neighborhood have had to been cut or have been visibly worn down. I think there is a 50% chance for in person to be canceled and everyone to go all virtual. However, the chance for no virtual instruction is lower. I would place it at around 45% right now, but it would be 45-50% if I could choose a range(I will play it conservative for now). The 2018 event had high wind warnings for the entire region, and it was expected to be worse, with stronger winds. It's gonna be hard to choose. The wind event now is expected to come in 2 waves: one Friday afternoon, one Friday evening. They will be the strongest at this time. This will make dismissal difficult for in person students. I'm not really sure. I think if there is enough power outages there could be no virtual or in person, but it's too difficult. It's really just 50/50 for both options.

TL;DR I think there is a 50% chance for in person to be canceled and for all virtual, and a 45-50% chance for no instruction at all. Read above for the exact explaining. 

*Edited by QuackyDucc