U.S. Census: DC Commutes Second-Longest

Ashburn residents have slightly above the region's average commute time of 34.5 minutes.

Whether traveling along Route 7, the Dulles Toll Road or Route 50, many Loudoun commuters are spending just a little less time in their cars than most of their counterparts in the region. While commuters as a whole in the Washington metropolitan area have the second-longest commutes in the nation, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average times posted for Loudoun zip codes slightly above the average for the DC area's a whole. The average travel time to work in DC was 34.5 minutes in 2011, according to numbers released by the bureau Tuesday. Ashburn has two ZIP Codes. Commuters in the 20147 on average spend about 31.7 minutes commuting to work, give or take 1.1 minutes, according to data from Slate.com. That number is …

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Weekend Starts with Strong Storms

Friday evening commute may be impacted by rain, wind and hail.

Update 9:25 p.m. Friday: A tornado watch remains in effect for Loudoun County through 2 a.m. June 2. Update 3:45 p.m. Friday: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning in the region, including Loudoun, until midnight. Update 2:30 p.m. Friday: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch across Northern Virginia until 9 p.m. There is now a tornado warning in Loudoun County and in Mongomery County, Md. until 2:45 p.m. Winds are starting to pick up and scattered rain is developing across Northern Virginia ahead of the cold front that will bring strong thunderstorms to the area during rush hour. Tips on driving safely in inclement weather are below, and also review tips on what to do in the event of a tornado. …

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Snow May Impact Rush Hour Drive

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through 8 p.m.; winter weather driving tips from the LCSO.

  Winter Weather Advisory Ashburn and Leesburg appear unlikely to get much of the snow expected in the region Wednesday evening, but Loudoun was tagged in a Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service. A Winter Weather Advisory for snow primarily serves as an alert that snow will cause travel difficulties and that drivers should be prepared for covered roads and limited visibility. The precipitation may impact rush hour. According to the advisory, which remains in effect until 8 p.m., 1 inch to 3 inches may fall in the advisory area; Loudoun sits on the eastern edge of the advisory area. The higher accumulations are expected in West Virginia, Maryland and extreme northwestern locations in Virginia. Forecasts call for …

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Ask Dr. Mike

Ask Dr. Mike: Things Beyond Our Control

The doctor offers advice on a range of issues facing families in Loudoun County.

Frustrated by “Mr. Jones’” Commute to DC Dr. Mike, My neighbor and I commute to the D.C. area for work.  He feels that it is perfectly fine to illegally use the airport lane on the Dulles Toll Road to speed up his commute. I, on the other hand, am honest and my commute time is always so much longer than his. I want to tell him how I feel, but I don’t think he will get it. I see him almost every morning when we leave for work, and it drives me crazy knowing what he is getting away with.  O in Loudoun County   O, You choose to live your life by a moral code that your neighbor does not follow to your liking. The bottom line is, however, that you are going to come across people in life that do not live up to your same moral standards or code. …

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Mike's Musings

Mike Muses on Snow Vets: 'I Take it Back'

Patch columnist claims tapioca pudding for brains after snow snarls traffic.

On Jan. 8, Patch ran an article written by yours truly entitled "Snow Puh-leeze."  In the opinion piece, I laid out an argument for Northern Virginians being, "grizzled, experienced veterans of winter weather" after last year's monumental snowstorms. Jan. 26, however, proved me wrong. A predicted and thoroughly expected snowstorm prompted businesses and the federal government to close early, sending thousands of motorists onto Northern Virginia's roads right as the storm started cranking into high gear. Gridlock ensued, stranding hundreds of motorists and creating the worst traffic disaster I, personally, can ever remember afflicting our area. [Editor’s note: Back in 1999, a truck carrying gunpowder spilled at the then-under-construction …

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