Snow Totals For Mid-Atlantic. Blizzard Could Set Records
A blizzard currently hitting the mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C. has paralyzed the area, according to reports. Forecasts were that snow totals may reach 2 1/2 feet in Washington, D.C., which would be a modern day record. Later information indicated that snow totals may ‘only’ reach 25 inches, short of the 28 inch record, but still high.
As of early Saturday, snow totals at the White House had already reached 10 inches. Portions of Maryland and West Virginia had seen their current snowfall totals reach more than 20 inches. At the same time, forecasts were not encouraging, with snowfall rates expected to increase to up to 2 inches per hour through the morning.
So far the storm has claimed two lives. Police reported two fatalities when a father and son were hit by a tractor-trailer in Virginia. They had stopped to help a stranded motorist.
A state of emergency was declared in Pennsylvania at 6:30 AM on Saturday. As of 7 AM, the National Weather Service said current snowfall totals were about 17.8 inches in Philadelphia. Parts of New Jersey and Maryland are also under a state of emergency.
Snow totals were so high that snow collapsed the roof of a private jet hangar at Washington Dulles International Airport. Current snowfall levels have forced the Postal Service, whose slogan implies nothing will stop them, including snow, to cancel Saturday service in the Washington D.C. area, including the Northern Virginia suburbs and suburban Maryland.
Elkridge, MD, southwest of Baltimore, has reported the highest snow totals. Elkridge reported 32 inches of snow, and that’s just the current snowfall total, as it keeps coming. Meanwhile, the nearby Baltimore Washington International Airport saw virtually all flights canceled.
Most people are reaction to the snow totals as one might expect: hunkering down at home. As long as they have electricity and heat, it is probably the best idea, and as long as they have electricity and heat, not a bad one, either, with the Super Bowl coming tomorrow.
