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| Second wave of snow heads for D.C. area after major storm forces closures, cancellations | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A second wave of snow appeared headed for the Washington region late Thursday afternoon, piling atop what already was the winter’s most significant snowfall and threatening to bury once more streets, sidewalks and parked cars cleared since the first snow ended in the morning. | A second wave of snow appeared headed for the Washington region late Thursday afternoon, piling atop what already was the winter’s most significant snowfall and threatening to bury once more streets, sidewalks and parked cars cleared since the first snow ended in the morning. |
| “We now believe there is a chance heavy snow will return to much of the D.C. area after about 4 p.m.,” The Washington Post’s | |
| Capital Weather Gang | |
| said, citing a second heavy snowfall in Roanoke, Va. “Precipitation may begin as rain and/or sleet, but should change to snow. Accumulations of one to four inches are possible, and we cannot rule out locally heavier amounts.” | |
| The first bad weather — a nasty combination of snow, sleet and punishing wind --descended on Washington before dawn Thursday to find that the region had shut down for the day. | The first bad weather — a nasty combination of snow, sleet and punishing wind --descended on Washington before dawn Thursday to find that the region had shut down for the day. |
| After a winter of smaller stuff, it was — finally — a regionwide wallop. | |
| The snow that fell overnight and into Thursday morning blanketed Washington, shuttering local schools, government offices and airports and leaving highways treacherous for the few who dared to venture onto them. | The snow that fell overnight and into Thursday morning blanketed Washington, shuttering local schools, government offices and airports and leaving highways treacherous for the few who dared to venture onto them. |
| Warned by reports of how the same storm brought life to a standstill Wednesday in several Southern states, the bad weather arrived here overnight to find a region resigned to the same fate. | Warned by reports of how the same storm brought life to a standstill Wednesday in several Southern states, the bad weather arrived here overnight to find a region resigned to the same fate. |
| The miserable mix was forecast to continue in some places through the day, according to the Capital Weather Gang, with clearing expected for Valentine’s Day, followed by a chance of light snow Friday night and Saturday. | |
| Power outages — that bane of bad weather — were surprisingly absent by midday Wednesday, but utility companies stood ready for problems if ice and freezing rain topped the heavy snow to bring down their lines. | Power outages — that bane of bad weather — were surprisingly absent by midday Wednesday, but utility companies stood ready for problems if ice and freezing rain topped the heavy snow to bring down their lines. |
| While there were no major road accidents with fewer drivers out on the highways, there was one reported fatality related to the weather. | While there were no major road accidents with fewer drivers out on the highways, there was one reported fatality related to the weather. |
| A Virginia Department of Transportation contract worker was killed while clearing snow on Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn, state police said. The man had pulled his truck onto the shoulder of the roadway shortly before 6 a.m. and was standing near the vehicle’s rear spreader when he was struck by a VDOT dump truck, police said. | A Virginia Department of Transportation contract worker was killed while clearing snow on Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn, state police said. The man had pulled his truck onto the shoulder of the roadway shortly before 6 a.m. and was standing near the vehicle’s rear spreader when he was struck by a VDOT dump truck, police said. |
| Metro shut down its service on 250 bus routes throughout the area early Thursday because officials were worried about road conditions. | Metro shut down its service on 250 bus routes throughout the area early Thursday because officials were worried about road conditions. |
| Several Metro bus routes were expected to reopen by 2 p.m. Thursday along major roadways, officials said. | Several Metro bus routes were expected to reopen by 2 p.m. Thursday along major roadways, officials said. |
| In a region given to bashing weather forecasters for getting it wrong, there was little for the cynics to complain about this time around. | In a region given to bashing weather forecasters for getting it wrong, there was little for the cynics to complain about this time around. |
| “I never really believed it,” James Beaner, 40, said of the forecast. “I didn’t think it was going to stop anyone from doing anything.” | “I never really believed it,” James Beaner, 40, said of the forecast. “I didn’t think it was going to stop anyone from doing anything.” |
| He commuted from St. Mary’s County to downtown Washington, where he works as a manager at a pizza restaurant. | He commuted from St. Mary’s County to downtown Washington, where he works as a manager at a pizza restaurant. |
| “I actually made it in good time today,” Beaner said as he waited for a train at the Branch Avenue Metro station. | “I actually made it in good time today,” Beaner said as he waited for a train at the Branch Avenue Metro station. |
| Some of his family and friends stayed home from their jobs, and he said some of them gave him a hard time about going in to work. He had a choice, but some others did not. | Some of his family and friends stayed home from their jobs, and he said some of them gave him a hard time about going in to work. He had a choice, but some others did not. |
| Joel Ramos, 33, was headed for a Glover Park restaurant, where he prepares food. | Joel Ramos, 33, was headed for a Glover Park restaurant, where he prepares food. |
| “It’s nice for the people who don’t have to work, but they are the people who will need to eat out today, and we have to open the restaurant,” said Ramos, who shivered from the cold outside the Friendship Heights Metro Station. | “It’s nice for the people who don’t have to work, but they are the people who will need to eat out today, and we have to open the restaurant,” said Ramos, who shivered from the cold outside the Friendship Heights Metro Station. |
| “There is no choice,” he said. “We need to make it to work. We have to be responsible.” | “There is no choice,” he said. “We need to make it to work. We have to be responsible.” |
| The Tastee Diner in Bethesda maintained its 44-year tradition of staying open 24-7, except for Christmas Day. | The Tastee Diner in Bethesda maintained its 44-year tradition of staying open 24-7, except for Christmas Day. |
| “Snowmageddon, you name it, we’ve been here,” said manager Beth Cox. | “Snowmageddon, you name it, we’ve been here,” said manager Beth Cox. |
| Owner Gene Wilkes, who lives in Dickerson, near Sugar Loaf Mountain, had to push through three-foot snow drifts on country roads that hadn’t seen plows yet. Another employee with a four-wheel drive vehicle picked up other workers. | Owner Gene Wilkes, who lives in Dickerson, near Sugar Loaf Mountain, had to push through three-foot snow drifts on country roads that hadn’t seen plows yet. Another employee with a four-wheel drive vehicle picked up other workers. |
| “We’ve had an action plan since Tuesday night — backup people, people on call, having people stay close by, and people close by working double shifts,” Cox said. | “We’ve had an action plan since Tuesday night — backup people, people on call, having people stay close by, and people close by working double shifts,” Cox said. |
| “The phone is ringing off the hook with people asking ‘Are you open? Are you open?’ ” Cox said. “There are people who have to be out in this weather — firefighters, police officers, anyone who needs to work 24 hours — and they need a place to eat, and they know we’re always here.” | “The phone is ringing off the hook with people asking ‘Are you open? Are you open?’ ” Cox said. “There are people who have to be out in this weather — firefighters, police officers, anyone who needs to work 24 hours — and they need a place to eat, and they know we’re always here.” |
| Snow totals varied considerably, but most residents reported significantly more of the white stuff — between eight and 15 inches — than they had seen since the Snowmageddon winter four years ago. The National Weather Service reported 11 inches of snow in Rockville and 12 in Kensington as of 6 a.m. There were about six inches of snow at Ronald Reagan National Airport, 9.5 inches in Arlington, 11 inches in Herndon, 14 inches at Fairfax Station and 12.5 inches in Rockville. | Snow totals varied considerably, but most residents reported significantly more of the white stuff — between eight and 15 inches — than they had seen since the Snowmageddon winter four years ago. The National Weather Service reported 11 inches of snow in Rockville and 12 in Kensington as of 6 a.m. There were about six inches of snow at Ronald Reagan National Airport, 9.5 inches in Arlington, 11 inches in Herndon, 14 inches at Fairfax Station and 12.5 inches in Rockville. |
| Jane Beard, 58, is a weather geek. She reads forecasting models and charts, and she is a fan of Big Weather. | Jane Beard, 58, is a weather geek. She reads forecasting models and charts, and she is a fan of Big Weather. |
| So on Thursday, outside her home in the Colesville area of Silver Spring, Beard was delighted by the measurement she took of the snowfall: 13 inches. | So on Thursday, outside her home in the Colesville area of Silver Spring, Beard was delighted by the measurement she took of the snowfall: 13 inches. |
| Still, there was a ways to go. It was only half of what she had recorded as the record snowfall in her yard: 26 inches, during Snowmageddon. | Still, there was a ways to go. It was only half of what she had recorded as the record snowfall in her yard: 26 inches, during Snowmageddon. |
| “If it were going to snow, we might as well have something to talk about,” said Beard, who works as a business consultant. | “If it were going to snow, we might as well have something to talk about,” said Beard, who works as a business consultant. |
| Metro officials said rail ridership during its normally bustling morning rush hour was “anemic” Thursday, with only 6 percent of the riders on trains compared to the same time period last Thursday. | Metro officials said rail ridership during its normally bustling morning rush hour was “anemic” Thursday, with only 6 percent of the riders on trains compared to the same time period last Thursday. |
| Renbin Yang, 31, ventured out to the College Park-U. of Md. Metro station, forced to take the train to his job at the National Institutes of Health rather than the bus, which was canceled. Originally from China, Yang estimated that the overnight accumulation was the most snow he has ever seen. | Renbin Yang, 31, ventured out to the College Park-U. of Md. Metro station, forced to take the train to his job at the National Institutes of Health rather than the bus, which was canceled. Originally from China, Yang estimated that the overnight accumulation was the most snow he has ever seen. |
| “When I walked here, I thought, ‘Can I make it to the station?’ ” Yang said with a laugh as he waited for a train. “That is one of the advantages of the trains over the buses. They’re less influenced by the weather, more reliable.” | “When I walked here, I thought, ‘Can I make it to the station?’ ” Yang said with a laugh as he waited for a train. “That is one of the advantages of the trains over the buses. They’re less influenced by the weather, more reliable.” |
| J.E. McNeil, 62, a contract attorney headed to K and 14th streets, walked through small mountains of snow from her Garrison Street NW home to the Friendship Heights Metro five long blocks away. | J.E. McNeil, 62, a contract attorney headed to K and 14th streets, walked through small mountains of snow from her Garrison Street NW home to the Friendship Heights Metro five long blocks away. |
| “I am tired,” she whispered, stopping in the middle of Harrison Street NW, where there was still no sign of snow plows. The sidewalks weren’t much better. She kept going, bundled up in a green coat, a black hat on, and carrying a backpack with extra food, as well as an extra book and a purse. She was prepared, she said, in case she is stranded downtown after work. | “I am tired,” she whispered, stopping in the middle of Harrison Street NW, where there was still no sign of snow plows. The sidewalks weren’t much better. She kept going, bundled up in a green coat, a black hat on, and carrying a backpack with extra food, as well as an extra book and a purse. She was prepared, she said, in case she is stranded downtown after work. |
| “There’s been more bad days than this,” she said recalling Snowmageddon and snow walls as high as her waist. “But don’t get me wrong, this is a pain in the neck.” | “There’s been more bad days than this,” she said recalling Snowmageddon and snow walls as high as her waist. “But don’t get me wrong, this is a pain in the neck.” |
| McNeil had appointments that couldn’t miss. And an hourly pay, too, she said. | McNeil had appointments that couldn’t miss. And an hourly pay, too, she said. |
| “Thank you, Metro!” She said. “For a lot of people it is so important to get to work and Metro and their workers really make it happen.” | “Thank you, Metro!” She said. “For a lot of people it is so important to get to work and Metro and their workers really make it happen.” |
| Early Thursday, all runways were closed at Ronald Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. But one runway reopened at Dulles shortly after 12:30 p.m. | Early Thursday, all runways were closed at Ronald Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. But one runway reopened at Dulles shortly after 12:30 p.m. |
| More than 300 flights were canceled at Reagan, along with 201 at Dulles and 123 at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, according to FlightAware, a Houston-based flight tracking company. | More than 300 flights were canceled at Reagan, along with 201 at Dulles and 123 at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, according to FlightAware, a Houston-based flight tracking company. |
| The terminal at Dulles was deserted. Clearly, travelers had heeded advice to check with their airlines before making what would have been a long, snowy and ultimately fruitless trek to the airport. | The terminal at Dulles was deserted. Clearly, travelers had heeded advice to check with their airlines before making what would have been a long, snowy and ultimately fruitless trek to the airport. |
| Some international flights already en route were diverted to other airports. A United flight from Dubai was sent to Chicago; an Emirates flight also from Dubai was directed to Pittsburgh. | Some international flights already en route were diverted to other airports. A United flight from Dubai was sent to Chicago; an Emirates flight also from Dubai was directed to Pittsburgh. |
| With his flight home to Nashville canceled, Rich Hayes left his hotel in Mount Vernon on what should have been an easy errand: getting a cup of coffee. | With his flight home to Nashville canceled, Rich Hayes left his hotel in Mount Vernon on what should have been an easy errand: getting a cup of coffee. |
| Eight blocks later, he found one. | Eight blocks later, he found one. |
| The 45-year-old trudged through snow and slush, pulling a blue suitcase, from 8th Street, near the Convention Center, to 16th and K streets NW. There he found the first open Starbucks — actually, nearly the first open anything — in blocks. It was past 9 a.m. | The 45-year-old trudged through snow and slush, pulling a blue suitcase, from 8th Street, near the Convention Center, to 16th and K streets NW. There he found the first open Starbucks — actually, nearly the first open anything — in blocks. It was past 9 a.m. |
| “It was pretty much a no mans land,” said Hayes, who was at least walking toward his nonprofit’s office near the Farragut West Metro station. “I foolishly skipped the hotel breakfast. I thought this would be easy.” | “It was pretty much a no mans land,” said Hayes, who was at least walking toward his nonprofit’s office near the Farragut West Metro station. “I foolishly skipped the hotel breakfast. I thought this would be easy.” |
| More than a foot of snow blanketed the quiet village of Middleburg in Loudoun County, where the Common Grounds coffee shop, the post office and the Safeway were the only businesses open. By 9:30 a.m., John Deere tractors worked to clear Route 50, which cuts through the center of town, as snow continued to fall in flakes the size of jelly beans. | More than a foot of snow blanketed the quiet village of Middleburg in Loudoun County, where the Common Grounds coffee shop, the post office and the Safeway were the only businesses open. By 9:30 a.m., John Deere tractors worked to clear Route 50, which cuts through the center of town, as snow continued to fall in flakes the size of jelly beans. |
| Since Common Grounds opened at 6 a.m., a total of 13 customers had come in for the drip-brewed coffee and lattes, said owner Cyndi Ellis. | Since Common Grounds opened at 6 a.m., a total of 13 customers had come in for the drip-brewed coffee and lattes, said owner Cyndi Ellis. |
| “We thought if guys are out plowing, at least we’d be open to get them food or a hot drink if they need it,” said Common Grounds owner Cyndi Ellis. “It’s a lot of snow. The worst I’ve seen in years. But I can sit here all day. It’s warm.” | “We thought if guys are out plowing, at least we’d be open to get them food or a hot drink if they need it,” said Common Grounds owner Cyndi Ellis. “It’s a lot of snow. The worst I’ve seen in years. But I can sit here all day. It’s warm.” |
| After a tricky walk over unshoveled sidewalks in a quest for the milk, orange juice and eggs she thought her husband had bought the night before, Veronica Leres arrived at the Tacoma Park grocery store only to find it dark. | After a tricky walk over unshoveled sidewalks in a quest for the milk, orange juice and eggs she thought her husband had bought the night before, Veronica Leres arrived at the Tacoma Park grocery store only to find it dark. |
| “Oh no,” said Lares, pushing futilely on the locked doors of the Tacoma Park Silver Spring Food Coop. “I’ll have to go to the 7-Eleven. We used to be ready for snow, but it hasn’t been so snowy lately. I think we forgot what it’s like.” | “Oh no,” said Lares, pushing futilely on the locked doors of the Tacoma Park Silver Spring Food Coop. “I’ll have to go to the 7-Eleven. We used to be ready for snow, but it hasn’t been so snowy lately. I think we forgot what it’s like.” |
| One urgent task, come snow, sleet, or rain: dogs must be walked. | One urgent task, come snow, sleet, or rain: dogs must be walked. |
| Robert Walters, 48, trudged through the combination of what seemed like all three forms of precipitation with his black and white border collie, Samantha, on Nebraska Avenue, in Northwest Washington. | Robert Walters, 48, trudged through the combination of what seemed like all three forms of precipitation with his black and white border collie, Samantha, on Nebraska Avenue, in Northwest Washington. |
| Except for Samantha, “I’d be drinking coffee and watching TV right now,” he said, as the excited dog strained at the leash. “Dogs must be walked.” | Except for Samantha, “I’d be drinking coffee and watching TV right now,” he said, as the excited dog strained at the leash. “Dogs must be walked.” |
| Walters, who is self employed, found the storm “overdue,” he said. “It’s the winter.” He said it was Samantha’s first real snow storm. The dog lunged away as he spoke. “Until she finds a place where she can go, this could be an all-day adventure.” | Walters, who is self employed, found the storm “overdue,” he said. “It’s the winter.” He said it was Samantha’s first real snow storm. The dog lunged away as he spoke. “Until she finds a place where she can go, this could be an all-day adventure.” |
| As the snow switched over to rain and the wind picked up, Julie Kirtz, 54, strode down the middle of deserted McKinley Street NW. | As the snow switched over to rain and the wind picked up, Julie Kirtz, 54, strode down the middle of deserted McKinley Street NW. |
| “It’s gorgeous,” she said. “I love it, absolutely love it. I grew up in California, moved to Alaska.” | “It’s gorgeous,” she said. “I love it, absolutely love it. I grew up in California, moved to Alaska.” |
| “I have to go back and sit in front of my computer all day, so it’s time to get out and enjoy it,” she said. | “I have to go back and sit in front of my computer all day, so it’s time to get out and enjoy it,” she said. |
| She said she was not surprised at the amount of snow that had fallen. “I figured it was going to be a lot. My kids are home. We’re good.” | She said she was not surprised at the amount of snow that had fallen. “I figured it was going to be a lot. My kids are home. We’re good.” |
| Matt Zapotosky, Julie Zauzmer, Dan Morse, Theresa Vargas, Michael E. Ruane. T. Rees Shapiro, Michael Rosenwald, Katherine Shaver, Caitlin Gibson, Steve Hendrix, Patrick Svitek, Emma Brown, Patricia Sullivan, Martin Weil, Susan Svrluga, Paul Duggan, Antonio Olivo, Michael A. Chandler, Lynh Bui, Luz Lazo, Lori Aratani, Mike DeBonis, Mark Berman, Donna St. George, Laura Vozzella, John Wagner, Ovetta Wiggins and Clarence Williams contributed to this report. | Matt Zapotosky, Julie Zauzmer, Dan Morse, Theresa Vargas, Michael E. Ruane. T. Rees Shapiro, Michael Rosenwald, Katherine Shaver, Caitlin Gibson, Steve Hendrix, Patrick Svitek, Emma Brown, Patricia Sullivan, Martin Weil, Susan Svrluga, Paul Duggan, Antonio Olivo, Michael A. Chandler, Lynh Bui, Luz Lazo, Lori Aratani, Mike DeBonis, Mark Berman, Donna St. George, Laura Vozzella, John Wagner, Ovetta Wiggins and Clarence Williams contributed to this report. |
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