# Unpleasantly Large Mid-Atlantic Snow Event Coming **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612 "2016-01-19T19:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/201 "2016-01-24T23:04:29Z")
Son and I dug out my car and halfway finished digging his out. The county plow piled too much snow against our fence and there are a couple of cracks I’ll need to fix. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/202 "2016-01-24T23:08:54Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > What do the people in Washington, etc, think happens in Canada during the winter, I wonder? That we cower in our homes several times each month? From the evidence in this thread, what at least some people in Canada do during the winter is sneer at people from other climates. Now we know! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/203 "2016-01-24T23:11:03Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Needless to say we are much calmed down from our initial hyper concern. What do the people in Washington, etc, think happens in Canada during the winter, I wonder? That we cower in our homes several times each month? > > The last time my city shut down for a snow event, because it does happen, it was because 3ft of snow fell for each of three straight days! You’ll have to forgive us Canadians if we’re just a titch amused to see your government and several states close up shop, everyone ordered into their homes over two feet of snow! (Yes, blowing snow conditions should keep people off roads, and highways should be closed in advance of such conditions!) You can’t compare Canadian cities, or even Northern Ohio and Buffalo NY with Washington DC. You and I have ten times the snow removal equipment/salt/workers working on this kind of event. DC doesn’t need that except every ten years or so. And only once during a season. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/204 "2016-01-24T23:28:01Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Federal offices will be closed tomorrow. Good thing! Metro and Metrobus are running very limited service, pretty much every school in the area is closed, and a lot of people still have mountains of snow. (Fortunately we got maybe a foot, which is just a fraction of what people on the west side of the area got.) My neighbor across the street has a snowblower, and he offered to let me use it. Needless to say, I took him up on that. It was still hard work, but a heck of a lot easier than shoveling would have been. I think I need to buy him some beer. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/205 "2016-01-24T23:40:58Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > elbows, your attitude to me is akin to me making fun of people in Oklahoma struggling to deal with a mild earthquake. It’s a much bigger deal when an event of that magnitude happens in a place not equipped to deal with it because the magnitude is uncommon. > > So no, I doubt anyone thinks you cower in your homes. I assume people think you’re used to dealing with it. To add what **Asimovian** said, those in the north are much more prepared to deal with weather of this type, while those in DC and Virginia and Maryland, not so much. Make no mistake, this blizzard was a rarity. This snow storm broke records in south central PA–the amount of snow we got within the past 36 hours is equivalent to the snow we get _a\*\*ll winter_. While we are equipped to deal with snow, we’re not equipped to deal with an entire season’s worth of snow all at once. We don’t have the equipment or manpower. You’re comparing apples to oranges–they aren’t the same. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/206 "2016-01-25T00:35:40Z")
Sorry, my comment was more about the international news on this side of the world being twenty four hours, non stop, news of enormously threatening snow storm hitting North America. And then discovering 2’ of snow fell! Cars are trapped on highways? How is that possible when the prediction of this event was so large and they know they don’t have enough snow removal equipment, as many have mentioned? When I reached a TV, I was initially alarmed at what might be facing us on our return, due to largely hysterical news coverage. On seeking out more facts this Canadian was left underwhelmed is all. Sorry if you felt I was being snarky, it was not my intent, only commentary on the international news reaction to what appears to be a snowstorm. Now get back out there and clear those store shelves! Haven’t you got shovelling to do? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/207 "2016-01-25T00:40:46Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Cars are trapped on highways? How is that possible when the prediction of this event was so large and they know they don’t have enough snow removal equipment, as many have mentioned? Because of the age-old human assumption ‘but won’t happen to **me**!’ And then it does. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/208 "2016-01-25T00:51:06Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Because of the age-old human assumption ‘but won’t happen to **me**!’ And then it does. And when it does, we may have had a DC Mayor with this snow policy [ [quotes unverified] ([Talk:Marion Barry - Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Marion_Barry))]: > [@](#): > > The Lord Giveth, and the Lord Taketh Away > > ``` > [Marion] Barry quoting Job 1:21 to explain his plan for snow removal after a 1996 snow storm that crippled Washington, DC. > > "... this is from the Wash Post, if my memory holds, probably not the former mayor: ‘Mayor Barry’s snow removal plan is Biblical: what the Lord giveth, the Lord will take away."[1] > > "The Lord brought the snow, the Lord will take it away." [2] > > "Mayor Marion Barry once enunciated his stunningly simple snow removal plan. Hey, it'll melt. "[3] > > "Barry’s snow removal strategy could be summed up in one word – spring"[4] > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/209 "2016-01-25T01:01:31Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Cars are trapped on highways? How is that possible when the prediction of this event was so large and they know they don’t have enough snow removal equipment, as many have mentioned? You assume that everyone knows this. You also assume that no one needs to go anywhere. There was a guy on the news who had to get to work because he works at an assisted living facility and needed to take care of the residents. Maybe Canadian old people with dementia don’t need anyone to take care of them in snowstorms. You’re an impressive people. > [@](#): > > Sorry if you felt I was being snarky, it was not my intent, only commentary on the international news reaction to what appears to be a snowstorm. > [@](#): > > What do the people in Washington, etc, think happens in Canada during the winter, I wonder? That we cower in our homes several times each month? Right. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/210 "2016-01-25T01:30:55Z")
A remarkable nighttime satellite image showing the blizzard over the U.S. East Coast: [Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page#/media/File:January_2016_United_States_winter_storm_2016-01-23_0715z.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/211 "2016-01-25T01:56:21Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > My neighbor across the street has a snowblower, and he offered to let me use it. Needless to say, I took him up on that. It was still hard work, but a heck of a lot easier than shoveling would have been. I think I need to buy him some beer. Aw, Hell, iffn you had asked, I’d have let you borrow mine (if I owned one); will you buy me some beer for the thought? 😉 > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A remarkable nighttime satellite image showing the blizzard over the U.S. East Coast: [Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page#/media/File:January_2016_United_States_winter_storm_2016-01-23_0715z.jpg) I like the one of [thundersnow](http://www.space.com/31717-blizzard-thundersnow-jonas-storm-astronaut-photo.html). ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/212 "2016-01-25T03:07:52Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > To add what **Asimovian** said, those in the north are much more prepared to deal with weather of this type, while those in DC and Virginia and Maryland, not so much. Make no mistake, this blizzard was a rarity. Not to mention the relatively large percentage of transient residents, due to the nature of Federal work. I regularly encounter people from out West and the South who have never seen snow in person. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/213 "2016-01-25T03:47:44Z")
Got back to work at the grocery today. The store managed to stay open the whole storm with a few close-by living employees working long hours. The roads are still dicey, but I think the cabin fever is getting to people. Heck, we had one guy come in today and just buy a single can of _shoe polish_. I kept thinking about why anyone would brave the elements for shoe polish… but my guess is he just wanted a break from being snowed in with the family. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/214 "2016-01-25T04:23:21Z")
Just in the last few hours I’ve seen at least 4 trucks go by, plows just hangin’ in the air. I suspect they’re purposely avoiding plowing neighborhood streets to keep everyone off the roads. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/215 "2016-01-25T10:20:36Z")
Curious and forget politics. Do you think Obama or any president before him ever go out and grab a shovel and help clear the white house driveway just for either old times sake, fun, or to show off? BTW, I find it cool they are now allowing people to sled down Capital hill. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/216 "2016-01-25T13:48:04Z")
Sledding at the Capital was a long tradition in DC, but they stopped it in recent years, but this year they relented. I’m glad to see it. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/217 "2016-01-25T16:09:10Z")
Apparently a snowplow got stuck around the corner from us yesterday evening. No sign of them being back to finish the job so far today. There have been a number of deaths in the region, mostly due to overexertion during snow shoveling, car accidents, and hypothermia. One man in his 50s died of overexertion walking home in the snow from a job at a convenience store. That’s just absurd. If public transportation shuts down, surely convenience stores can shut their doors, too. No one should risk their life getting to or from a non-essential job. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/218 "2016-01-25T16:49:20Z")
[peeve] CapitOl Hill CapitAl City [/peeve] ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/219 "2016-01-26T02:43:57Z")
Not _quite_ the same thing, but we’ve got a bit of a cold snap ourselves. Must be some sort of pressure system over China. These things usually are due to something like that. But it’s been positively brisk outside. We’ve even been able to lay off the air conditioner a bit. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612/220 "2016-01-26T17:18:21Z")
I just tried to go into the office. The roads are fine where they’ve actually been cleared, it’s just that all of the roads have a lane or two full of the snow that was plowed out of the other lane(s). The poor people waiting for buses had it the worst - since the bus stops are barricaded behind huge snow banks, folks were just standing pretty much in the middle of the road waiting for their bus. I made it about halfway to the office and decided to bag it. Working at home today and tomorrow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpleasantly-large-mid-atlantic-snow-event-coming/743612.md?page=12)