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| Residents hunker down as double-digit snowfall shuts down nation’s capital | Residents hunker down as double-digit snowfall shuts down nation’s capital |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Washington region battled a heavy, snow-laden nor’easter Saturday that created near blizzard conditions, with blowing snow and poor visibility, and forced people to take shelter from Virginia to New England. | The Washington region battled a heavy, snow-laden nor’easter Saturday that created near blizzard conditions, with blowing snow and poor visibility, and forced people to take shelter from Virginia to New England. |
| Some power outages were reported in Virginia and Maryland, especially in Annapolis, Rockville, and Silver Spring, and on the Eastern Shore. | |
| Snowplows were working to keep major roadways clear, although the Capital Beltway early Saturday was clogged with disabled cars at the U.S. 50 interchange. | |
| Transportation officials had urged people to avoid driving, and most seemed to have heeded the warnings. But an SUV caught fire in Silver Spring as the driver was struggling to maneuver up a hill, authorities said. The driver wasn’t injured. | |
| [Live updates on the blizzard and its impact] | [Live updates on the blizzard and its impact] |
| By 7:30 a.m. there were 14 inches of snow at Reagan National Airport, 16 inches reported in Springfield, Va., and 18 inches in Damascus, Md. Germantown had 16 inches, Bethesda 16 inches, and Washington’s Petworth neighborhood 14.5 inches. | |
| By noon, it looked like Gaithersburg, Sterling, Leesburg, and Frederick were getting the worst, as they were buried in two, possibly three, feet of snow. | |
| The National Weather Service forecast map was red with blizzard alerts from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. | The National Weather Service forecast map was red with blizzard alerts from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. |
| [The latest update from the Capital Weather Gang] | [The latest update from the Capital Weather Gang] |
| Wind restrictions were in place on the Bay Bridge, as gusts over 40 mph tore at flags, and downed wires blocked some streets. | Wind restrictions were in place on the Bay Bridge, as gusts over 40 mph tore at flags, and downed wires blocked some streets. |
| There were two snowshoveling fatalities. Prince William County officials said a man died of a heart attack while shoveling snow in front of his Dale City home. And Prince George’s County authorities said a 60-year-old man died shoveling snow outside his home in Fort Washington. | |
| Police in Fairfax County said a huge St. Bernard dog had to be rescued Friday night after falling into a frozen pond. | |
| The 130-pound dog, “Milo,” was with its family in Fairfax Station, watching them tubing down the hill toward Woodglen Lake when it stepped onto the frozen water and fell through, Fairfax officials said Saturday. | |
| About 30 minutes later, two county firefighters waded into the water wearing heavy “ice suits” and helped pull the large dog to freedom, but only after falling back into the water a second time under Milo’s weight. | |
| “It was difficult getting that big dog up on the ice,” said fire department Capt. Carlton G. Burkhammer, who supervised the rescue. “If you’re in the water, in an ice suit, and you’re trying to lift something that’s 130 pounds above your head off the ice. That short amount of time in the water, our guys were exhausted.” | |
| Burkhammer urged people to stay away from icy ponds, saying that the risk is too great for them and for rescue workers who have to go in and save them. | |
| “I have been to that exact location three times for ice rescues, dogs in the water, people,” he said. “People in the water, including firefighters, you can’t last that long in these temperatures.” | |
| The Saturday forecast called for heavy snow and higher winds out of the north. An additional foot of snow was possible. Thunder and lightning also were reported. | |
| Along the coast, where the low-pressure system fueling the snowstorm was churning, hurricane force wind gusts were reported, and the forecast at sea was for towering waves as tall as a three-story building | Along the coast, where the low-pressure system fueling the snowstorm was churning, hurricane force wind gusts were reported, and the forecast at sea was for towering waves as tall as a three-story building |
| No flights were departing from the regions three major airports, officials said. | No flights were departing from the regions three major airports, officials said. |
| “As we await the latest model data to get a better idea on how much snow is left...we’re on the lookout for official blizzard conditions,” Dan Stillman, of The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang reported. | “As we await the latest model data to get a better idea on how much snow is left...we’re on the lookout for official blizzard conditions,” Dan Stillman, of The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang reported. |
| A blizzard requires “snow and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to 1 / 4 mile or less for 3 hours or longer and sustained winds of 35 mph or greater or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater” according to the National Weather Service, he wrote. | A blizzard requires “snow and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to 1 / 4 mile or less for 3 hours or longer and sustained winds of 35 mph or greater or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater” according to the National Weather Service, he wrote. |
| Meanwhile, District police had to search for a 9-year-old boy who went missing Friday afternoon in Northeast Washington. Police said Di’Marco Dempsy went missing about 4 p.m. Friday from his home in the 4900 block of 12th Street NE. | |
| Saturday morning, police reported that Di’Marco was found safe and unharmed. | Saturday morning, police reported that Di’Marco was found safe and unharmed. |
| In Washington, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said the storm remained dangerous.“There are too many people in the streets, both driving and walking,” Bowser said at a morning news conference. “Please stay home.” | |
| In Montgomery County, the roof of an apartment complex’s utility building partially collapsed under heavy snow. Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire Department, said no injuries were reported, and no one was trapped. | |
| But he said the collapse knocked out power and other utilities to the apartment building in the 700 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard,in Gaithersburg. | |
| Piringer said firefighters working with the Life Safety Task Force were evacuating the complex, which has 250 units, because residents are without heat and utilities. | Piringer said firefighters working with the Life Safety Task Force were evacuating the complex, which has 250 units, because residents are without heat and utilities. |
| Around mid-morning, there seemed to be a lull in the storm in some places, said the Weather Gang’s Angela Fritz. | Around mid-morning, there seemed to be a lull in the storm in some places, said the Weather Gang’s Angela Fritz. |
| “They’re in what we call a dry slot,” she said. “That’s pretty typical in nor’easters. Big nor’easters tend to have an area of dry air that pulls in from the south, which stops the snow for a period of time.” | “They’re in what we call a dry slot,” she said. “That’s pretty typical in nor’easters. Big nor’easters tend to have an area of dry air that pulls in from the south, which stops the snow for a period of time.” |
| “Then it’ll start up again,” she said. | “Then it’ll start up again,” she said. |
| According to the National Weather Service, the record for the biggest two-day snowstorm in Washington was set Jan. 27-28, 1922, when 26 inches fell, collapsing the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater in Adams Morgan, killing more than 100 people. | According to the National Weather Service, the record for the biggest two-day snowstorm in Washington was set Jan. 27-28, 1922, when 26 inches fell, collapsing the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater in Adams Morgan, killing more than 100 people. |
| The current storm grew in power just after midnight Friday. By 2 a.m. Saturday, snow was falling so fast that the National Weather Service issued a special statement that said the pace of the snowfall, as well as heavy wind gusts, were creating near whiteout conditions. | The current storm grew in power just after midnight Friday. By 2 a.m. Saturday, snow was falling so fast that the National Weather Service issued a special statement that said the pace of the snowfall, as well as heavy wind gusts, were creating near whiteout conditions. |
| “Expect snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour within this band,” the statement said. | “Expect snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour within this band,” the statement said. |
| People had already taken to social media at that hour to report snowfall totals between 9 and 11 inches. | People had already taken to social media at that hour to report snowfall totals between 9 and 11 inches. |
| The region shut down Friday as the winter storm of potentially history-making magnitude swept in with the prospect of lasting 36 hours and leaving more than two feet of snow in some places. Cleanup from the storm is expected to take days. | The region shut down Friday as the winter storm of potentially history-making magnitude swept in with the prospect of lasting 36 hours and leaving more than two feet of snow in some places. Cleanup from the storm is expected to take days. |
| The snow’s arrival found Washington and its suburbs as prepared as they could be after days of warnings that this was a massive storm. Despite the hyperbole used before for many storms, this one genuinely looked like it would be the storm of the young century for the region — and perhaps one that would be remembered for generations. | The snow’s arrival found Washington and its suburbs as prepared as they could be after days of warnings that this was a massive storm. Despite the hyperbole used before for many storms, this one genuinely looked like it would be the storm of the young century for the region — and perhaps one that would be remembered for generations. |
| By midnight, five to eights inches had already fallen, except in areas area Fredericksburg to southern Maryland, which had totals from eight to 10 inches. That was on track with the latest forecast from Weather Gang, which called for a total of 16 to 30 inches. | By midnight, five to eights inches had already fallen, except in areas area Fredericksburg to southern Maryland, which had totals from eight to 10 inches. That was on track with the latest forecast from Weather Gang, which called for a total of 16 to 30 inches. |
| Hundreds of plows and salt trucks took to the major roads in Maryland and Virginia even before the snowfall began. But with the snow expected to keep falling as fast as three inches an hour, it seemed a matter of time before even those big arteries would be shut down. | Hundreds of plows and salt trucks took to the major roads in Maryland and Virginia even before the snowfall began. But with the snow expected to keep falling as fast as three inches an hour, it seemed a matter of time before even those big arteries would be shut down. |
| [Milk, bread and 7 boxes of condoms: How D.C. prepares for storms] | [Milk, bread and 7 boxes of condoms: How D.C. prepares for storms] |
| With temperatures just below freezing, the snow was heavy with moisture, and the forecast of gale force winds posed a threat to trees and power lines, raising fears that snowbound residents would be left in the dark and without heat. | With temperatures just below freezing, the snow was heavy with moisture, and the forecast of gale force winds posed a threat to trees and power lines, raising fears that snowbound residents would be left in the dark and without heat. |
| Pepco, which provides power to the District and much of the Maryland suburbs, warned customers that they may face multi-day outages. Dominion Virginia Power, which serves Northern Virginia, had similar fears. | Pepco, which provides power to the District and much of the Maryland suburbs, warned customers that they may face multi-day outages. Dominion Virginia Power, which serves Northern Virginia, had similar fears. |
| “We began advising our customers earlier this week to prepare for a multi-day outage event. It’s always best to prepare for the worst,” said Dominion spokesman David Botkins. “With that said, we will be swarming the affected areas with crews to get the lights and heat back on as quickly and safely as possible.” | “We began advising our customers earlier this week to prepare for a multi-day outage event. It’s always best to prepare for the worst,” said Dominion spokesman David Botkins. “With that said, we will be swarming the affected areas with crews to get the lights and heat back on as quickly and safely as possible.” |
| As of dawn Saturday, however, power remained on for most customers in the Washington area. | As of dawn Saturday, however, power remained on for most customers in the Washington area. |
| From the outset, the snow readily took hold on pavement and parked cars that had been in near or below freezing temperatures all week. | From the outset, the snow readily took hold on pavement and parked cars that had been in near or below freezing temperatures all week. |
| Government officials and police agencies had warned residents to gather supplies and stay off the roads. | Government officials and police agencies had warned residents to gather supplies and stay off the roads. |
| By 5 p.m. Friday, conditions began to deteriorate rapidly, and. Bowser urged stragglers to get off the streets. She said the District National Guard had reported for duty and would be deployed to transport personnel around the city as needed. | |
| “We have a forecast that we haven’t had in 90 years,” Bowser (D) said. “It has life-and-death implications, and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way.” | “We have a forecast that we haven’t had in 90 years,” Bowser (D) said. “It has life-and-death implications, and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way.” |
| Virtually all institutions and attractions in and around the capital region — including the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo — said they would be closed through the weekend. Metro said it did not plan to resume bus and rail service until Monday. | Virtually all institutions and attractions in and around the capital region — including the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo — said they would be closed through the weekend. Metro said it did not plan to resume bus and rail service until Monday. |
| Though the region’s three major airports said they would remain open, airlines already had canceled hundreds of flights in and out of them. Amtrak said it hoped to operate on a reduced schedule along the Northeast Corridor line but encouraged would-be passengers to check before heading to the train station. | Though the region’s three major airports said they would remain open, airlines already had canceled hundreds of flights in and out of them. Amtrak said it hoped to operate on a reduced schedule along the Northeast Corridor line but encouraged would-be passengers to check before heading to the train station. |
| District officials said they were well staffed with emergency personnel but cautioned that responses might be delayed. | District officials said they were well staffed with emergency personnel but cautioned that responses might be delayed. |
| City officials warned residents that the city will be dealing with cleanup throughout the coming week and said residents should not expect to see snow plows before Sunday. | City officials warned residents that the city will be dealing with cleanup throughout the coming week and said residents should not expect to see snow plows before Sunday. |
| Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) echoed that call for patience, saying it would take time for crews to clear the snow. | Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) echoed that call for patience, saying it would take time for crews to clear the snow. |
| “We’re not magicians,” he said. “We can’t make it disappear.” | “We’re not magicians,” he said. “We can’t make it disappear.” |