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 ...
Nothing yet here in Howard County.
Snow is already accumulating here in Fairfax County. Didn’t expect it to start for a few more hours.
Where’s Al Gore?
Gosh, I sure do hope it doesn’t rain in Hawaii...
Glad I finished my Christmas shopping today!
Leni
OH ok - WRAL said you guys north of the Triabngle were getting major snow....
But what does WRAL know?
They also said my drive home from work would be free of any falling stuff - but they were wrong - it snowed hard (and sleeted) all the way home....LOL.
(Not sticking on the roads though).
Southeast???
Man I’m sad right now. I wanted to get away to my cabin in New Market (going to get a ton of snow at my mountain home), but I’m stuck in Williamsburg because my wife would call off from her hobby job!
Yeah I’m a bit sore over it. We bought the cabin for this very reason but her stinking hobby job kept us from going.
Buy my neighbors are on their way to their cabin (down the mountain from ours) and they say it’s slow going as traffic is going very slow. So I won’t go now because it’s too dangerous to leave this late at night.
So I’m just sitting here reading free republic when I could be at my cabin in the mountains with a ton of snow building up and a warm fire keeping me toasty as we play games with the kids.
I grew up in Raleigh and now live in Arizona. Just reading these comments is giving me the urge to run out right now and buy MILK! and BREAD! and BAR THE DOOR! LOCK THE WINDOWS! I already have plenty of Costco toilet paper :o)
OH really? But is it on the way there?
You must be in Northern W Va?
I actually don’t know what part of WVa my friend will be driving through - it’s to pick up her daughter who lives there....but I was thinking Sunday might be a better day to drive there....
75 degrees here. I have air conditioning on. It will get cool tomorrow and I can open the windows. :) Snow? Never happens here.
Joe Lieberman went home to CT for the Jewish holidays. I saw this morning that they are going to post blizzard warnings for Long Island. Maybe Joe will be snowed in for a few days.
I’m sure Joe is getting even for Al Franken’s crap of denying him additional time. However, I heard that it was on Harry Reid’s orders as the Dim freshman senator from Alaska did the same to Texas Senator Cornyn.
Make that Triangle....not Trianbgle....finger flub
Thank God for small favors
Diane in Wisconsin.... I grew up in Menomonie, now live in Minnesota, but go back nearly every weekend to my elderly father's farm & 120 acres just south of Menomonie.
WRAL seldom gets it right. lol
It has been sticking on the roads here, beautiful to look at from the window, but treacherous if one has to go out. We’ve got everything we need so we’re staying put inside.
Too funny about the BMT stores, but it’s accurate! Personally, I was more inclined to stock up at the liquor store than Giant.
LOL - well hello from Raleigh to you!
Yes, you got it. Raid the stores! Empty the bread and milk stocks!
I actually got to the store last night and expected massive crowds. Maybe it’s the economy or maybe everybody was yawning since WRAL weather people have cried wolf (snow is coming, snow is coming) one too many times and nobody believed them this time....but the store was virtually empty.
You lucky thing...and where is “here”?
Please have snow, and no signs of Joe ... ♪♫
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410860/posts
Oh my: Lieberman out of town before crucial Senate vote as snowstorm moves in (Perfect storm?)
Hot Air ^ | December 18, 2009 | Allahpundit
NWS says blizzard warning here on LI.
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