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Snow causes messy road conditions, school closures, delays throughout D.C. region Snow causes messy road conditions, school closures, delays throughout D.C. region
(35 minutes later)
The first snowfall of the new year was heavier than expected, prompting apologies from several of the region’s school systems and wreaking havoc with the morning commute Tuesday as icy roads and hundreds of collisions snarled traffic.The first snowfall of the new year was heavier than expected, prompting apologies from several of the region’s school systems and wreaking havoc with the morning commute Tuesday as icy roads and hundreds of collisions snarled traffic.
With forecasts calling for one to two inches of snow, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties opened schools on time and later came to regret it. Students were left waiting for buses that never came. Schools reported that buses were stuck in traffic or unable to navigate icy hills. The decision to open infuriated parents, who accused school officials of being reckless and putting students in unnecessary danger.With forecasts calling for one to two inches of snow, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties opened schools on time and later came to regret it. Students were left waiting for buses that never came. Schools reported that buses were stuck in traffic or unable to navigate icy hills. The decision to open infuriated parents, who accused school officials of being reckless and putting students in unnecessary danger.
Hundreds took to social media to voice their anger, with #FCPSFail and #closeFCPS trending on Twitter across the country and worldwide for much of the day.Hundreds took to social media to voice their anger, with #FCPSFail and #closeFCPS trending on Twitter across the country and worldwide for much of the day.
“We apologize for the difficulties the weather caused this morning,” Fairfax school officials said in an e-mail sent to parents. “The decision was made with the best information we had very early this morning. Needless to say, the conditions were far worse than anticipated.”“We apologize for the difficulties the weather caused this morning,” Fairfax school officials said in an e-mail sent to parents. “The decision was made with the best information we had very early this morning. Needless to say, the conditions were far worse than anticipated.”
Amanda Ghiloni, a freshman at West Potomac High School, said that she arrived at her bus stop at 6:30 a.m. and waited for 30 minutes. The bus never showed. Amanda Ghiloni, a freshman at West Potomac High School, said she arrived at her bus stop at 6:30 a.m. and waited for 30 minutes. The bus never showed.
“I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Why didn’t they cancel school? The roads are covered, and no one can drive,” said Amanda, 14. Her mother, Heather Anderson, said that she got up early three times Tuesday morning to check her phone for messages from Fairfax schools about a delay or cancellation. “I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Why didn’t they cancel school? The roads are covered, and no one can drive,” said Amanda, 14. Her mother, Heather Anderson, said she got up three times Tuesday morning to check for messages from Fairfax schools about a delay or cancellation.
“I couldn’t believe there wasn’t one,” Anderson said. “I was really disappointed in Fairfax, and whoever made the decision just blew it.” “I couldn’t believe there wasn’t one,” Anderson said. “I was really disappointed . . . and whoever made the decision just blew it.”
In Prince William, police said there were at least 12 crashes involving school buses and another 18 instances where school buses having difficulty on the roads obstructed traffic. In Prince William, police said at least 12 crashes involved school buses and in at least 18 other instances school buses having difficulty on the roads obstructed traffic.
And at least one serious incident in the region appeared related to students trying to make it to school. In Anne Arundel County, police said a 17-year-old student was critically injured after the Ford Explorer she was riding in slid off the road and hit a tree. The student and the driver of the car, a 17-year-old, were on their way to Northeast High School. At least two serious incidents in the region appeared related to students trying to make it to school. In Anne Arundel County, police said a 17-year-old student was critically injured after the Ford Explorer she was in slid off the road and hit a tree. The student and the 17-year-old driver were on their way to Northeast High School. In another incident in the county, a 15-year-old girl slipped on a street and was struck by a car.
It was an uncomfortable day for about 6,100 Pepco customers in the Dupont Circle area, where power was out for at least 15 hours after underground feeder cables failed. The cause was under investigation.
Metro said it was investigating a report that a group of children on their way to school were kicked off buses when they went out of service. As of Tuesday night, Metro said that it had not confirmed the account but that it would be against policy.
The snowfall in Fairfax and Loudoun counties was at least an inch deeper than was forecast, and in some places, it was two or more inches deeper. Meteorologists said that although the amounts may have been off, their forecasts, for the most part, were correct. School systems had enough information to make sound decisions, they said.The snowfall in Fairfax and Loudoun counties was at least an inch deeper than was forecast, and in some places, it was two or more inches deeper. Meteorologists said that although the amounts may have been off, their forecasts, for the most part, were correct. School systems had enough information to make sound decisions, they said.
“Despite the underestimates, we were very clear [that] snow would begin between 4 and 6 a.m., which it did,” said Jason Samenow, chief meteorologist with The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang. “We were very clear [that] accumulating snow would coincide with commuting time — which it did. We were very clear the commute would be a difficult one — which it was.”“Despite the underestimates, we were very clear [that] snow would begin between 4 and 6 a.m., which it did,” said Jason Samenow, chief meteorologist with The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang. “We were very clear [that] accumulating snow would coincide with commuting time — which it did. We were very clear the commute would be a difficult one — which it was.”
Although the impending snow had been on the radar for several days, many people set out as if it were a usual morning. As a result, motorists were angered that major roads had not been pre-treated as promised and that snow plows were nowhere to be seen. Although the impending snow had been on the radar for several days, many people set out as if it were a usual morning. As a result, motorists were angered that major roads had not been pre-treated as promised and that snowplows were nowhere to be seen.
“Yeah, this was a ‘greaaaat’ day. Spent 95 minutes for a 10 miles drive from Rockville to Gaithersburg because treatments on 28 and 270 N were absolute nil,” wrote Post reader yanks5179.“Yeah, this was a ‘greaaaat’ day. Spent 95 minutes for a 10 miles drive from Rockville to Gaithersburg because treatments on 28 and 270 N were absolute nil,” wrote Post reader yanks5179.
Virginia transportation officials acknowledged that the ­heavier-than-expected snowfall caught them off guard. Virginia transportation officials acknowledged being caught off guard.
“It has been miserable for commuters,” said Joan Morris, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. “We prepared for a one-to two-inch storm. We did pre-treating yesterday. We had trucks out at 3 a.m. But it was clear at the early part of this morning’s rush-hour that this was a much different storm than anticipated — three to five inches instead.” “It has been miserable for commuters,” said Joan Morris, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. “We prepared for a one-to-two-inch storm. We did pre-treating yesterday. We had trucks out at 3 a.m.” But she said the snowfall was much more than expected, with three to five inches.
Had officials known that in advance, “we would have been cautioning people to delay their commutes. Instead, there was this sense that it was a normal commute and we’d get some snow, but the snow came in a lot earlier and a lot heavier than expected,” she said. Were that known in advance, “we would have been cautioning people to delay their commutes. Instead, there was this sense that it was a normal commute and we’d get some snow, but the snow came in a lot earlier and a lot heavier than expected,” she said.
Charlie Gischlar, a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, said a storm that coincides with rush-hour always presents a challenge. Charlie Gischlar, a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, said a storm that coincides with rush hour always presents a challenge.
“We like these storms to happen at 2 a.m.,” Gischlar said. “But this storm literally hit at the beginning of the morning rush-hour. The timing — during the morning rush-hour — is the headline here.” “We like these storms to happen at 2 a.m.,” Gischlar said. “But this storm literally hit at the beginning of the morning rush hour. The timing — during the morning rush hour — is the headline here.”
Gischlar said road crews pre-treated Maryland roads Monday by spraying a salt brine mixture. The pre-treatment initially prevented the snow from sticking when it began to fall about 5:30 a.m., he said. The state had nearly 1,800 plows out Tuesday. Gischlar said road crews pre-treated Maryland roads Monday by spraying a brine mixture. The pre-treatment initially prevented the snow from sticking when it began to fall about 5:30 a.m., he said. The state had nearly 1,800 plows out Tuesday.
“We were fully mobilized first thing this morning,” said Rob Rager, another spokesman for the agency. “That’s everything we’d throw at a bigger storm.” “We were fully mobilized first thing this morning,” said Rob Rager, another spokesman for the agency.
But Rager said that the forecast for one to two inches of snow likely led many commuters to ignore highway officials’ calls to delay their Tuesday morning drives. But Rager said that the forecast for one to two inches of snow probably led many commuters to ignore highway officials’ calls to delay their Tuesday morning drives.
“I think a lot of people saw the forecast for a dusting, and people thought it wouldn’t be a big deal,” Rager said. “But it doesn’t take much to make the roads slick.”“I think a lot of people saw the forecast for a dusting, and people thought it wouldn’t be a big deal,” Rager said. “But it doesn’t take much to make the roads slick.”
In her first full week on the job, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) gave mixed reviews on the city’s handling of the snow. Bowser’s name became a fixture on social media as parents lamented slippery trips to schools and traffic accidents that snarled thoroughfares. D.C. schools opened on time. In her first full week on the job, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) gave mixed reviews on the snow handling. She became a fixture on social media as parents lamented slippery trips to schools and traffic accidents that snarled thoroughfares. D.C. schools opened on time.
Unlike leaders in Virginia who apologized after they were pilloried for opening schools on time, Bowser was unyielding, saying her administration had done the best it could with the forecast at hand. Unlike Virginia school leaders, Bowser was unyielding, saying her administration had done the best it could with the forecast at hand.
“We can now see blacktop in most of the city,” Bowser said at a late-morning news conference. “The crews got out with the information we had and did a pretty good job, though I am not satisfied with the level of traffic backups that we had.”“We can now see blacktop in most of the city,” Bowser said at a late-morning news conference. “The crews got out with the information we had and did a pretty good job, though I am not satisfied with the level of traffic backups that we had.”
Bowser said that whenever possible, it would be her job to keep the city running. “We’re going to open the government,” she said. “It is my belief that when we have bad weather that that’s when the residents of the District of Columbia need the government the most. And so my challenge to my team is that we are ready to open the government and open the schools.” Bowser said that it would be her job to keep the city running. “We’re going to open the government,” she said. “When we have bad weather, that’s when the residents of the District of Columbia need the government the most.” She said she challenged her team to be ready to open the government and the schools.
In Takoma Park, Morgan Wright, 39, shoveled his driveway, fully expecting to make it to his morning meeting in Crystal City. His sloping street had not yet been plowed, but he figured that if he could clear a path and get some momentum, he could make it to the open road and to freedom.In Takoma Park, Morgan Wright, 39, shoveled his driveway, fully expecting to make it to his morning meeting in Crystal City. His sloping street had not yet been plowed, but he figured that if he could clear a path and get some momentum, he could make it to the open road and to freedom.
But the snow was falling fast, and the two tire tracks he shoveled filled quickly again. His hybrid’s tires spun futilely, and Wright went back inside — where his two preschool-age daughters were winding up for a big snow day — to work at home.But the snow was falling fast, and the two tire tracks he shoveled filled quickly again. His hybrid’s tires spun futilely, and Wright went back inside — where his two preschool-age daughters were winding up for a big snow day — to work at home.
“I overestimated the traction of the Prius,” Wright said. “It’s incredibly painful for a Montana transplant to have to give up with three inches of snow on the ground.”“I overestimated the traction of the Prius,” Wright said. “It’s incredibly painful for a Montana transplant to have to give up with three inches of snow on the ground.”
Lori Aratani, Lynh Bui, Aaron C. Davis, Dana Hedgpeth, Paul Duggan, Steve Hendrix, Antonio Olivo, Michelle Boorstein, Bill Turque, Katherine Shaver and Victoria St. Martin contributed to this report. Lori Aratani, Lynh Bui, Aaron C. Davis, Dana Hedgpeth, Paul Duggan, Steve Hendrix, Antonio Olivo, Michelle Boorstein, Katherine Shaver, Victoria St. Martin, Bill Turque and Martin Weil contributed to this report.