Hmmm, never tried to embed multiple YouTubes before, I guess the software doesn't play along. Here's some AP text, for those who are interested.
'Snowmageddon' blankets Mid-Atlantic in heavy snow
WASHINGTON – Mid-Atlantic residents were buried Saturday from a likely record-setting blizzard the president jokingly dubbed "Snowmageddon," and those brave enough tried to clear a path through the wet, heavy mounds of thigh-high snow.
The snow was falling too quickly in the nation's capital for crews to keep up, and officials begged residents to stay home and out of the way so that roads might be cleared in time for everyone to return to work Monday. The usually traffic-snarled roads were mostly barren, and Washington's familiar sites and monuments were covered with nearly 2 feet of snow.
Tihana and Jarrett Blanc had given up on digging, instead taking their dog, Hector, for a walk through northwest Washington during what forecasters said could be the biggest storm for the nation's capital in modern history.
"Our car is stuck. We're not even trying," said Tihana, 36.
The storm toppled trees and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Washington, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The situation was the same in West Virginia, where some 400 National Guard troops were helping with snow removal.
Shoppers picked store shelves clean Friday in anticipation — Tihana Blanc mused it was like people preparing for Armageddon. Nearly two feet of snow had fallen by noon Saturday in cities across the region.
Hundreds of car wrecks were reported across the region, though only two deaths were reported — a father and son who died while helping another motorist in Virginia. By Saturday, most people couldn't drive anywhere because their cars and roads were buried.
In Ellicott City, Md., Christine Benkoski said she was trying to dig out from at least 2 feet. As she tried to clear her driveway, she said she uncovered how the storm had transitioned from snow, to ice, then back to snow.
"I feel like an archaeologist," Benkoski said.
"I've been out here for an hour, and my only goal is to get to the street."
And President Barack Obama, a snow veteran from his days in Chicago, didn't have a smooth day. He walked out of the White House midmorning to find the South Lawn, his backyard, looking nearly like an untouched wilderness. Instead of the familiar scenes of manicured lawns and clipped hedges, snow had piled on every shrub and the backyard was almost colorless.
First, there was a small fender bender on the White House south lawn. Then a tree branch, overcome with snow, cracked and fell on a motorcade vehicle with press inside when the president was coming back from a speech at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting in town.
Instead of a presidential limo, Obama rode in a black SUV covered with presidential seals.
Obama thanked Democrats for "willing to brave a blizzard, Snowmageddon."
Noting the president's hometown, DNC chairman Tim Kaine said "It's like an April day in Chicago."
After all that, the White House announced Obama would have no more outings for the day.
Meanwhile, Shawn Punga and his wife, Kristine, were making plans to move to a hotel if the power was not restored to their house in Silver Spring, Md. They were concerned for their 2-year-old daughter, Ryder, who was bundled up in thick pink pajamas and slippers.
"I have just been watching the thermostat. If it hits 60, that's when we're going to pack up," he said.
Airlines canceled flights, churches called off weekend services, and Amtrak and commuter trains ground to a halt. Some people wondered if they would be stuck at home for several days.
At Dulles International Airport, part of a hangar roof collapsed and damaged some of the private jets housed inside, though no one was hurt, said Courtney Mickalonis, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Snow crews worked overnight, but "it's coming down faster than we can keep up with it," she said.
The snow comes less than two months after a Dec. 19 storm dumped more than 16 inches on Washington. Snowfalls of this magnitude — let alone two in one season — are rare in the area. According to the National Weather Service, Washington has gotten more than a foot of snow only 13 times since 1870.
The heaviest on record was 28 inches in January 1922. The biggest snowfall for the Washington-Baltimore area is believed to have been in 1772, before official records were kept, when as much as 3 feet fell, which George Washington and Thomas Jefferson penned in their diaries.
Despite the onslaught, some embraced the chance for a little peace and quiet. Carolyn Matuska was loving her morning run along Washington's National Mall.
"Oh, it's spectacular out," she said. "It's so beautiful. The temperature's perfect, it's quiet, there's nobody out, it's a beautiful day."
There was an epic snowball fight in DC earlier today that I was part of. Thousands showed up. Basically, it was supposed to be north vs. south, but it ended up being a massive outer ring of thousands vs. the inner ring of about a hundred around a fountain. I was in the inner ring and will be paying for it tomorrow, but it was great fun!
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Originally Posted by TosaInu
At times I read back my own posts [...]. It's not always clear at first glance.
lol, they would all die in Wisconsin. :P Toughen up you East-coast sissies!
Lol you Wisconsinites would all die in Russia... Why, just two weeks ago it was -45 Celsius back in my hometown... And no, I do not live in Siberia. In there, the temperature is measured by the number of storeys it takes for saliva to solidify into ice while it is flying at terminal velocity towards the ground... Y'know, they do not even use mobile phones in Siberia - the cold literally destroys the fragile electronics.
Lol you Wisconsinites would all die in Russia... Why, just two weeks ago it was -45 Celsius back in my hometown... And no, I do not live in Siberia. In there, the temperature is measured by the number of storeys it takes for saliva to solidify into ice while it is flying at terminal velocity towards the ground... Y'know, they do not even use mobile phones in Siberia - the cold literally destroys the fragile electronics.
Nah, we could tough it out. -45 C is about -49 F. We have had -40 F+ before with windchills bringing it to -46 F. I think we could survive, though yeah, it would be a lot harder in Russia and Alaska than out in our little snowy paradise. With our conditioning for cold though, it would only be a small adaptation.
Siberia and Alaska...two places I never want to live. :P (yeah, I think I would be the equivalent of a Virginian in Wisconsin in either of those places. :P)
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Everything you need to know about Kadagar_AV:
Originally Posted by Kadagar_AV
In a racial conflict I'd have no problem popping off some negroes.
At least 2,000 people took part in the Official Dupont Circle Snowball Fight on Saturday afternoon. It was a flash mob with cabin fever, a giggling, hollering, exuberant crowd that spent more than an hour aggressively, chaotically and noisily lobbing snowballs across the circle's park. It was the largest of a scattering of organized snowball fights throughout the city, including one that attracted at least 100 people on the Mall.
The Dupont Circle battle began with the burst of an air horn, then snowballs began raining in every direction. Hundreds watched from the perimeter of the circle, standing on park benches and snapping pictures with their phones. Others coordinated mass launches of snowballs toward the circle's fountain, which a thick mass of people seemed to be trying to defend. People shrieked, bellowed, ducked, ran and laughed -- a lot.
I got about 20 inches. Power was out for a few hours Friday night and again for most of the day Saturday. Got the driveway clear today, awaiting the plow that will block me in again. Apparently we are looking at another 5-8 inches Tuesday night. I've had 3 races up north canceled so far due to lack of snow, and each of those weekends we have had enough locally to run. Go figure.
edit-> They say Dulles airport (about 10 miles away from me) got 32", so I guess that's my official snowfall amount, but sticking a yardstick in the snow in my yard got me 18". For what it's worth...
Last edited by drone; 02-09-2010 at 17:35.
Reason: updated totals
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There was an epic snowball fight in DC earlier today that I was part of. Thousands showed up. Basically, it was supposed to be north vs. south, but it ended up being a massive outer ring of thousands vs. the inner ring of about a hundred around a fountain. I was in the inner ring and will be paying for it tomorrow, but it was great fun!
I live in Northern VA and saw the snowball fight on the internet. I wish I could have been there!
East Coast Snowpocalypse
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Re: East Coast Snowpocalypse
Originally Posted by Lemur
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