Commuting Away from D.C. in the AM, Arlington to Leesburg-- how bad is it? Options

[homeschoolmom]

I hope some D.C. gurus are reading this!! I have searched the Wash Post website, Metro website, etc., and found scant info on how traffic moves away from D.C. in the AM as well as toward D.C. in the PM. Is it comparable to the bottlenecks going in the opposite direction?
My DH will commute if less than 1 hour each way (otherwise will stay in Leesburg during the week-- not a big deal, already paid for); is this possible? And how much snow is too much to even bother trying to drive this distance?
Thanks in advance for your advice! Please tell me everything you can...

[TravelGuy]

I'm not exactly sure to be honest, but generally, traffic in the DC metro area, particularly during rush hour, is bad - second worst in the nation behind Los Angeles. I've never tried to get from Arlington to Leesburg during rush hour, but I wouldn't be surprised if it took an hour or more, particularly coming back in the evening. The thing I'm not sure of is how the G.W. Parkway, which goes from Arlington to the Beltway (I-495) looks during the a.m. rush. going out there. But it wouldn't surprise me if it were bad given the number of people living in the city and close-in suburbs now commuting to the outer suburbs these days. (Loudoun County, where Leesburg is located, is the fastest growing county in the nation, and there are more and more corporations locating there, especially around Dulles Airport, which is now the nation's fifth busiest.)

With regard to snowfall, an inch or more during rush hour and the roads are just about paralyzed.

[TravelGuy]

Also, I-66 could be used in lieu of the G.W. Parkway to head out that way, but not sure if that would save time. Might be longer, actually.