Posted on 12/18/2009 5:59:52 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
A major storm was expected to bury the Washington region Saturday with what forecasters said could be the largest snowfall to hit the area in six years and the greatest December accumulation in more than 70 years.
Accumulations of 15 inches or more in the city and up to 24 inches in parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains were possible, according to the National Weather Service. The snow was expected to cause significant disruptions for shoppers, travelers and revelers on the last weekend -- and biggest shopping day -- before Christmas.
Especially large amounts of snow could accumulate southeast of the Interstate 95 corridor, where "paralyzing" near-blizzard conditions could occur, said AccuWeather.com chief meteorologist Joe Bastardi.
Snow was expected to start falling early Saturday and to increase in intensity all day, as bands of precipitation, fed by moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and driven by a cold northeast wind, sweep over the area.
Temperatures will remain in the 20s and low 30s, aggravated by gusty winds of 20 to 25 mph, the Weather Service said. The snow was not expected to taper off until Sunday morning.
Severe highway, rail and air travel disruptions were anticipated. Some airlines were canceling flights Friday, and authorities urged people to stay off the roads. Southwest Airlines said it was allowing customers using six East Coast airports to rebook tickets without penalties.
A state of emergency was declared in Virginia, where the National Guard was on alert to help with emergency transportation. In the District, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) declared a snow emergency, effective at 7 a.m. Saturday. All vehicles must be removed from the city's snow routes or they will be ticketed and towed.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Please look at your computer screen to see the huge grin on my face.
Oh - you are near the mountains. Beautiful area.
Six inches already - more still falling?
Did you get to the store before the storm hit or are you all stocked up?
:-)
(I went to the store here last night....It’s a tradition over here that’s lasted all my lifetime...you hit the store before even one inch of snow hits....if you can...)
Of course a few years ago, traffic came to a gridlock total stop around Raleigh when we actually did have 1 inch of snow! It took people 13 hours to get home from school and work, with many sleeping in their cars or buses going back to the schools and the kids sleeping there. It was wild.
Sitting over here in WV watching the DC news stations with the usual:
Goofy looking junior reporter standing in the middle of Rockville Pike with a stupid looking hat.
Goofy senior reporter standing in front of a Virginia salt dome watching trucks load salt and sand.
Goofy senior and junior reporters standing in front of grocery stores and hardware stores while goofy, clueless local residents panic.
Everyone loading up on bread, milk and toilet paper.
Love it, it’s very amusing.
Hi there - you live in a part of the country where it snows a lot, right? That’s why this is such a big deal here....very unusual to get any snow much less significant snow before Christmas....but....I getcha.....major snows in flyover country are ignored. It’s only when these hit the home of government and media that it becomes really big news....
And I join all those hoping and praying this brings a God-sent end to any hope whatsoever of getting Obamacare passed this year!!!
Hey in WV - I know the reporters around here ALWAYS interview the salt truck drivers at these times and we ALWAYS see the mounds of salt/sand ready to be put down on the roads here....
I have a friend who plans to drive up through W VA tomorrow - a bad idea?
I’m north of Raleigh about 30 mi from the VA border. The snow is now mixed with sleet.
Washington DC is far different from Wisconsin.
Around here I figure the extent of our dealings with FEMA will be drawing them a map back to the highway.
Off for the Holidays.
I spent 10 years up there before moving to Houston and I agree - Giant is out of everything...LOL....and I can’t believe the Dims are willing to get out in that mess to vote for a bill that will ensure their demise....
Get those busses down here NOW!
Let’s not be hasty...
If zero can’t land in DC, I think that AF1 has in flight refueling capability.
Can’t we send him back?
And don’t worry about the congress types: those people down there don’t know how to drive on anything other than dry pavement, and sometimes not even then. 4WD is only useful if you know how to employ it, and they don’t.
In Martinsburg WV we haven’t seen a flurry yet.
D.C./ Maryland is in a unique weather zone. We can get polar air masses in winter, followed by tropical air masses in summer.
If we were all used to it, it would be better. We're hoping it doesn't cancel our church's annual Christmas concert.
Here in the WDC area they panic if there is a snow cloud sighted in Wyoming. They close schools, start driving erratically (running lights and so forth) and buy tons of toilet paper and milk. What a laugh.
Next to nanny state politics, the weather is the favorite pasttime of the DC area media. All the better if they can “panic” you about it.
Hope my hubby makes it home from Kentucky on Sunday.
You my FRiend are worse off than most.
You are experiencing the leap from global warming to the critical status of climate change!
6” here in the West End so far.
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