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As commuters struggle back to work, storm’s aftermath still chokes rail lines As commuters struggle back to work, storm’s aftermath still chokes rail lines
(about 3 hours later)
The region’s efforts to dig out from the historic winter wallop faced a setback Tuesday as snow and ice continued to cause problems on some Metro lines with the number of commuters expected to steadily rise. The region’s efforts to dig out from the historic winter wallop faced a setback Tuesday as snow and ice continued to cause problems on some Metro lines and as the number of commuters was expected to rise steadily.
The transit system had planned to resume full service on all but the Silver Line at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, but those plans changed. Overnight trains that were run as tests on the western portion of Metro’s Orange Line ran into snow and ice on the third rail of the tracks, which powers the system. The transit system aimed to resume full service on all but the Silver Line at 5 a.m. Tuesday, but those plans changed. Overnight trains used to test the western portion of Metro’s Orange Line ran into snow and ice on the third rail of the tracks, which powers the system.
That caused trains to stop, so Metro said it made the decision to keep closed four stations on the Orange Line. The move, combined with the closing of the Silver Line, limited rail options for many residents in more distant suburbs. That caused trains to stop, so Metro said it decided to keep closed four stations on that line. The move, combined with the closing of the Silver Line, limited rail options for many residents in some suburbs.
[Live updates on Metro service and more this morning][Live updates on Metro service and more this morning]
On the roads, most major highways reopened and snowplows turned to secondary roads, but officials warned that it may be days before they reach into the warren of residential streets to excavate homeowners snowbound since Friday.On the roads, most major highways reopened and snowplows turned to secondary roads, but officials warned that it may be days before they reach into the warren of residential streets to excavate homeowners snowbound since Friday.
Most school systems remained closed Tuesday — and some, such as Arlington County, through Wednesday — while many workplaces were prepared to call on their employees to return. The federal government also remained closed Tuesday.Most school systems remained closed Tuesday — and some, such as Arlington County, through Wednesday — while many workplaces were prepared to call on their employees to return. The federal government also remained closed Tuesday.
Most U.S. post offices in the region reopened, but delivery service was expected to continue to be spotty because mail carriers often could not reach homes and businesses. Most U.S. post offices in the region reopened, but delivery service was expected to remain spotty because mail carriers often could not reach homes and businesses.
Local authorities continued to urge drivers who had been snowbound since Friday to avoid unnecessary trips so that plowing could continue. Authorities continued to urge drivers who had been snowbound since Friday to avoid unnecessary trips so that plowing could continue.
[Today’s forecast: Showers could help melt some snow][Today’s forecast: Showers could help melt some snow]
The work of cleanup crews was complicated by the fact that the more than two feet of snow that fell in many places could not be easily shoved aside. Much of the snow had to be hauled off to an open space, creating mountains that would take weeks or months to melt away. Metro’s last-minute change early Tuesday morning to its service on the Orange Line left riders waiting and cold.
Grace Lin, a lawyer in the District who lives in McLean, said she went to bed Monday night after hearing that Metro was going to be running, but she always had her doubts.
At 6 a.m. Tuesday, she said, she checked Metro’s website “just to see, because their accuracy is not always good.” She saw there were no trains on part of the Orange Line.
“Immediately I’m thinking, ‘Can I just stay home?’ ”
Across the region, the work of cleanup crews on roads was complicated by the fact that the massive amount snow could not be shoved aside easily in many places. Much of the snow had to be hauled to open spaces, creating mountains that will take weeks or months to melt.
Officials were largely noncommittal about when they expected plowing to be finished. District officials said they hoped to have the downtown area cleared enough to be “back to business” by Tuesday, when D.C. government planned to reopen.Officials were largely noncommittal about when they expected plowing to be finished. District officials said they hoped to have the downtown area cleared enough to be “back to business” by Tuesday, when D.C. government planned to reopen.
With the vast task, authorities were prioritizing. Neighborhoods where people live and park their cars were often not at the top of the list. With the vast task, authorities had to prioritize, so many neighborhoods were often not at the top of the list.
In the District, Michael Czin, spokesman for Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), said “we want to get the main thoroughfares clear” and “we want to make sure the most likely Metro [bus] routes are up and running.” In the District, Michael Czin, spokesman for Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), said, “We want to get the main thoroughfares clear,” and “we want to make sure the most likely Metro [bus] routes are up and running.”
[Full list of what’s closed on Tuesday][Full list of what’s closed on Tuesday]
“And we’ll continue to make our way through the residential streets,” Czin said. “And we’ll continue to make our way through the residential streets,” Czin added.
A giant snow melter is on its way from Indiana, a convoy of trucks is heading to the District from Connecticut and the city is seeking federal assistance, said Chris Geldart, the city’s director of homeland security and emergency services. A giant snow melter is on its way from Indiana, a convoy of trucks is heading to the District from Connecticut, and the city is seeking federal assistance, said Chris Geldart, director of the city’s Emergency Management Agency.
“Twenty-four inches of snow across 4,400 miles [of roadway], we have a lot of snow we’re going to be moving,” Geldart said. “Twenty-four inches of snow across 4,400 miles [of roadway] — we have a lot of snow we’re going to be moving,” Geldart said.
Hope for a big thaw was dimmed by the forecast, which suggested a touch of rain or snow Tuesday and Wednesday that could create icy conditions and the possibility of more snow later in the week. Hope for a big thaw was dimmed, when forecasts suggested that small amounts of rain or snow Tuesday and Wednesday could create icy conditions and that more snow could possibly fall later in the week.
[Pedestrians practice the extreme sport of traveling D.C.’s sidewalks][Pedestrians practice the extreme sport of traveling D.C.’s sidewalks]
Maryland Transportation Secretary Peter K. Rahn warned that the weather could cause dangerous conditions. He said that on interstates and U.S. highways, “we have bare roads . . . for at least two lanes in each direction. We don’t have all of the shoulders cleared,” Rahn said. Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn warned that the weather could cause dangerous conditions. He said that on interstates and U.S. highways, “we have bare roads . . . for at least two lanes in each direction. We don’t have all of the shoulders cleared,” Rahn said.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Monday that “local authorities particularly, will need time to dig out.” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Monday that “local authorities particularly will need time to dig out.”
Montgomery County offered no promises of when all its residents would be freed from impassible residential streets. Montgomery County offered no promises of when all of its residents would be freed from impassable residential streets.
Virginia said its interstates will be largely, though not completely, cleared by Tuesday’s morning rush.Virginia said its interstates will be largely, though not completely, cleared by Tuesday’s morning rush.
“We’ll have to see how much progress we make overnight,” said Jennifer McCord, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. “It’s just so much more snow than we usually get.”“We’ll have to see how much progress we make overnight,” said Jennifer McCord, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. “It’s just so much more snow than we usually get.”
Virginia officials said they have made significant progress on clearing streets in subdivisions, but they offered no timetable for when all neighborhood roads would be traversable.Virginia officials said they have made significant progress on clearing streets in subdivisions, but they offered no timetable for when all neighborhood roads would be traversable.
[10 amazing Snowzilla timelapses][10 amazing Snowzilla timelapses]
Though many people wanted to break out from the snow, there remained a degree of patience. Although many people wanted to break out from the snow, there remained a degree of patience — in some cases.
“The streets will get plowed when they get to it,” said Ed Rich, who said the first plow reached his Rockville street at 10 a.m. Monday. “I have no complaints. I think people need to be patient. Major roads need to be plowed first.”“The streets will get plowed when they get to it,” said Ed Rich, who said the first plow reached his Rockville street at 10 a.m. Monday. “I have no complaints. I think people need to be patient. Major roads need to be plowed first.”
In Silver Spring, Laura Hagmann, 53, said she’d heard the distant beeping of a snowplow in her neighborhood Monday morning but didn’t expect to see one on her residential street for another day. In Silver Spring, Laura Hagmann, 53, said she had heard the distant beeping of a snowplow in her neighborhood Monday morning but didn’t expect to see one on her residential street for another day.
“I am sympathetic,” she said. “There is a lot of snow out there, and it just takes time to remove it.”“I am sympathetic,” she said. “There is a lot of snow out there, and it just takes time to remove it.”
But by Tuesday, she said, “my patience will be waning.”But by Tuesday, she said, “my patience will be waning.”
Small dramas and acts of kindness played out through Monday’s sparse but steady commute, which served as something of an easy practice run. But the relatively minor disruptions seen Monday may be amplified into major bottlenecks, as larger numbers of drivers potentially head back out Tuesday.Small dramas and acts of kindness played out through Monday’s sparse but steady commute, which served as something of an easy practice run. But the relatively minor disruptions seen Monday may be amplified into major bottlenecks, as larger numbers of drivers potentially head back out Tuesday.
At one downtown corner Monday, two large red plows driven by city contractors scraped their way down I Street one after the other. But the trail of heavy, dirty snow that sloughed off their plow blades ended up blocking the northbound lane of a major cross street (17th Street), forcing cars to swerve into the oncoming traffic lane to get by. Later, a follow-up plow got stuck on a snow mound while turning to clean up the mess. At one downtown corner Monday, two large red plows driven by city contractors scraped their way down I Street NW one after the other. But the trail of heavy, dirty snow that sloughed off their plow blades ended up blocking the northbound lane of a major cross street (17th Street NW), forcing cars to swerve into the oncoming traffic lane to get by. Later, a follow-up plow got stuck on a snow mound while turning to clean up the mess.
[How this one ranks among D.C.’s biggest snowstorms][How this one ranks among D.C.’s biggest snowstorms]
One good Samaritan offered Josephine Jimenez, an investment consultant, a hand as she climbed over the snowbank blocking the sidewalk. “I was hoping they’d scoop a little bit more,” Jimenez said. “I’m from San Francisco, so this is all different for me.” One Good Samaritan offered Josephine Jimenez, an investment consultant, a hand as she climbed over the snowbank blocking the sidewalk. “I was hoping they’d scoop a little bit more,” Jimenez said. “I’m from San Francisco, so this is all different for me.”
One continuing danger posed by the snow sent seven people to the hospital in Fairfax with carbon monoxide poisoning Sunday night after the exhaust vents inside their apartment building’s furnace rooms became clogged with snow. The exhaust vents in some apartment buildings became clogged by snow, sending seven people to the hospital in Fairfax on Sunday with carbon monoxide poisoning.
“This is a huge concern,” said Capt. Randy Bittinger of the Fairfax County fire department. “We certainly don’t want people to go out on their roofs, but they should make sure those vents are also clear.” “This is a huge concern,” said Fairfax County Fire Capt. Randy Bittinger. “We certainly don’t want people to go out on their roofs, but they should make sure those vents are also clear.”
At least nine people in Maryland, Virginia and the District have died in incidents related to the blizzard, according to figures released Monday. Several more deaths are being investigated.At least nine people in Maryland, Virginia and the District have died in incidents related to the blizzard, according to figures released Monday. Several more deaths are being investigated.
Virginia State Police said six deaths are linked to the storm – one traffic fatality in Chesapeake, and five due to hypothermia in the city of Hampton and the counties of Wise, Charles City, Gloucester and Henry. Virginia State Police said that six deaths are linked to the storm — one traffic fatality in Chesapeake, and five from hypothermia in the city of Hampton and the counties of Wise, Charles City, Gloucester and Henry.
[Were you a blizzard wimp or warrior?][Were you a blizzard wimp or warrior?]
Not included in this list is the death of a man Sunday in Leesburg who police said suffered an apparent heart attack while walking home from a store through waist-high snow. A Virginia State police spokesman said this death is among several awaiting rulings from the medical examiner’s office, so the number could climb. Not included in this list is the death of a man Sunday in Leesburg who police said suffered an apparent heart attack while walking home from a store through waist-high snow. A Virginia State Police spokesman said this death is among several awaiting rulings from the medical examiner’s office, so the number could climb.
In Maryland, two deaths have been confirmed by authorities as snow-related. A man in his 60s died Saturday after shoveling snow in Fort Washington, in Prince George’s County, and a 49-year-old man died in Abingdon, northeast of Baltimore, also while shoveling snow. In Maryland, authorities confirmed that two deaths are snow related. A man in his 60s died Saturday after shoveling snow in Fort Washington, in Prince George’s County, and a 49-year-old man died in Abingdon, northeast of Baltimore, also while shoveling snow.
Police in Maryland are investigating two other possibly storm-related deaths. The body of a man described by police as homeless was found Sunday in Laurel, in a snowbank off U.S. 1, and a woman was found earlier that day lying on a street in Hampstead, about 30 miles northwest of Baltimore. Police in Maryland are investigating two other possibly storm-related deaths. The body of a man described by police as homeless was found Sunday in Laurel, in a snowbank off U.S. Route 1, and a woman was found earlier that day lying on a street in Hampstead, about 30 miles northwest of Baltimore.
There was one storm death reported in the District, that of an 82-year-old man who D.C. fire officials said died Sunday after shoveling snow on a residential street in Northeast.There was one storm death reported in the District, that of an 82-year-old man who D.C. fire officials said died Sunday after shoveling snow on a residential street in Northeast.
Some flights resumed Monday at the region’s three major airports, which were largely shut down over the weekend. But passengers were encouraged to check their flight’s status before heading to the airport.Some flights resumed Monday at the region’s three major airports, which were largely shut down over the weekend. But passengers were encouraged to check their flight’s status before heading to the airport.
Staff writers Robert McCartney, Ashley Halsey III, Antonio Olivo and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report. Robert McCartney, Ashley Halsey III, Antonio Olivo and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report.