We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
It’s snowing.
— City Paper (@wcp) January 22, 2016
We’re a couple of hours into what could well be the Great Snowstorm of 2016 and the powder is already starting to pile up. A brief note to our readers: If you haven’t made it home yet, travel safely! (Remember also that Metrobus and Metrorail will cease operating today at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., respectively. They won’t run this weekend either.) To those of you who telecommuted this morning, keep us posted on your wintry travails, whether they’re externally- or self-imposed. Wherever you find yourself, keep the emergency numbers towards the bottom of our live blog handy. But most important, as they say, keep calm and blizzard on.
What Does the Forecast Say?
If looking outside the nearest window weren’t sufficient, Capital Weather Gang reports that D.C. could get more than one inch of snow per hour during certain periods. The system is supposed to last for about 36 hours. “Conditions are the worst starting late this afternoon, continuing into Saturday,” the gang explains. “Thunder snow is possible Saturday. Extreme snowfall rates of two to three inches per hour are possible at the storm’s peak late Friday night and into Saturday.” THUNDER SNOW? It’s almost like Thor is coming through. Watch out for his hammer—it’d likely do some damage.
At a press conference this morning—after she’d been briefed by the National Weather Service—Mayor Muriel Bowser advised residents that D.C. would see “sustained winds of 30 mph and more” Friday evening through Saturday evening. “Peak winds will be around 50 mph,” she said. Combined with heavy, wet snow, this means that trees and wires are almost certain to come down.
AccuWeather predicts that areas due west of D.C. could see up to three feet of snow. Oh, and you pretty much can’t go anywhere.
What Is Twitter Saying?
Blizzard Twitter is Very Active Twitter, so there’s a lot to work with here—from excitement, to apathy, to full on pandemonium.
It’s coming down alright #Snowzilla #LoganCircle #dcsnow pic.twitter.com/Gcrh5IIivS
— Valentina Pasquali (@VPasquali) January 22, 2016
Snow is starting to stick real fast outside our Anacostia (Washington,DC) home office. #blizzard2016… https://t.co/5AMjOlVNgN
— Tom Donohue (@tmdonohue) January 22, 2016
Is it really that hard to figure out why Canada wouldn’t have to cancel for snow like this and DC does? C’mon people
— Mina (@maddc8) January 22, 2016
I see a lot of mf underestimating this snow like it’s not possibly the biggest blizzard in Washington DC’s history.
— Nyi Tasha (@_nyitasha) January 22, 2016
DC residents cars doing 30 flips in 1in of snow slush pic.twitter.com/m339SBlaRI
— Rev.MarMar (@YungLost_Rebel) January 22, 2016
Best time to prepare for the blizzard is when it’s happening #blizzard2016 #stormjonas #dc #snow
— Diana Mellitz (@DianaMellitz) January 22, 2016
“NHL has postponed #CapsDucks due to snow impacting the DC area”. pic.twitter.com/XIAC5GH5Eg
— Teemu (@Sateentekija) January 22, 2016
When you’re husbands in charge of getting #snow essentials from the grocery store #thewinterawakens #dcsnow pic.twitter.com/XilshX5JE3
— Shilpi Agarwal, M.D. (@ShilpiMD) January 22, 2016
Things are really getting dicey out there. Be safe! #dcsnow #snowmaggedon2016 pic.twitter.com/3oaCDFzUS0
— David Edward (@_David_Edward) January 22, 2016
Want salad with your snow? Too bad! Empty shelves at L and 5th Downtown DC. #blizzard2016 @OhMyGOFF @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/X8Nfs3ZHbm
— Rob Long (@rivanlo) January 22, 2016
Lmao im stuck in DC for days cuz this blizzard
— daddy mig (@daddymig) January 22, 2016
What Should I Do?
Don’t go outside if you can avoid it, and for your own sake, please don’t dress lightly if you have to. (Today is NOT the day for an outdoor streaking run.) Otherwise, sit tight, put on some music, and perhaps pour a glass of wine, or something a little stronger.
This is gonna be a long haul.
Today’s Snow Panic Index: 6/5
Illustration by Lauren Heneghan