DC, Mid-Atlantic Bracing for 'Snowmageddon'

(Feb. 5) -- The second massive -- and potentially record-breaking -- snowstorm of this winter has begun pounding the Mid-Atlantic region. The storm already has been dubbed "Snowmageddon" as it is expected to dump 1 to 2 feet of snow by the time it winds down Saturday evening.

The heaviest snowfall totals most likely will be in West Virginia, northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, southern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. This, of course, includes the heavily populated corridor from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore to Philadelphia. A slight northward jaunt of the storm would bring the very heavy snow northward to New York City, Long Island and perhaps even southern New England.

The threat of the storm was already forcing numerous closings and cancellations in the area this morning.

The Associated Press reported that Southwest Airlines was cancelling flights at Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore airports. Virginia's General Assembly canceled Friday's floor sessions and committee meetings. Amtrak canceled most trains heading south from the area.

In Washington, a city where only a couple of inches of snow is known to wreak havoc, officials began preparing days in advance for what was expected to be the second blizzard of the season. In the spirit of the season, the city said it was ready for a "super snow bowl."

Even before the first flakes fell, D.C. officials announced that District public schools would close today at noon and that government offices would close at 2 p.m. Many private schools were closed altogether, and officials said only essential government personnel would have to report to work Saturday. The federal government said most employees would be sent home four hours early today.

"It's going to be a long weekend," Kellie Boulware of Maryland's State Highway Administration told The Washington Post. Residents were swarming to local grocery stores, and even liquor stores reported higher sales, as people prepped early for Super Bowl parties.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty declared a snow emergency beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and the city deployed more than 750 workers and 270 pieces of equipment to lay down salt in advance of the storm. Officials urged residents to stock up on food and gas, and then stay off the roads -- even the sidewalks.

"After the last big storm in December, we saw a lot of people walking in the streets, which is unsafe," said William Howland Jr., the director of D.C.'s Department of Public Works. "This is dangerous for pedestrians and our crews who will be out in full force clearing streets. If the sidewalks are clear, people can stay on them."

The D.C. Metro system remained open this morning, but public transit officials warned of paralysis, saying they would likely have to suspend bus service and above-ground train service.

This will be a dangerous storm, especially for those attempting to travel. The heavy snow will snarl traffic and most likely close airports and roads. The wind will increase as the storm strengthens, making blizzard conditions a threat from later tonight into Saturday morning.

The ingredients for the storm are the perfect example of what's required for incredible snow amounts in this part of the country: a tremendous amount of moisture, a strengthening storm and an abundance of cold air. The cold air has been lying in wait after being delivered by a high pressure system from Canada a couple of days ago. The moisture-laden storm is tracking from the Gulf of Mexico northeastward along the Eastern Seaboard. The strengthening of the storm is associated with the storm's interaction with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

If this all seems familiar to the residents of the Mid-Atlantic region, it should. The same weather ingredients combined for a powerhouse of a storm during the third week of December. The map shows the snow depth on Dec. 20, immediately following the first massive snow.

The scope of the heavy snow was impressive; the dark blue areas on the map were locations that had over 20 inches of snow on the ground. Washington, D.C., (Ronald Reagan Airport) recorded its single-storm record for a December snowfall with just over 16 inches, and Philadelphia recorded its second heaviest snowstorm on record with just under 2 feet of snow. This Sunday's snowfall map will be similarly impressive, though the precise alignment of the heavy snow will not be identical .

While this has already been an incredible winter in this region, there's plenty of winter left. In fact, some of the largest snowstorms have been known to occur in March.