#closeFCPS takes over the world

Numerous media outlets are noting that the hashtag #closeFCPS is trending worldwide on Twitter. "CloseFCPS" means, of course, "Close Fairfax County Public Schools," because the suburban Virginia schools system made people go to school today. Well, it sounds like almost nobody showed up, so I guess they aren't making anybody do anything. So they're upset about potential unexcused absences? I'm so confused.

To be fair, I drove in PG County (where the schools are closed), and I'm glad I don't have kids on school buses today.

Maryland, not Virginia, actually

"Mild winters gobble up snow budgets"

This story makes my head hurt. It explains that despite the fact that we haven't gotten so much as an inch of a snow on any given day this winter, the States of Maryland and Virginia have somehow used up a majority (Virginia) or all (Maryland) of their snow budgets for the season.

Morning Snowflakes

As I gird myself to head out and shovel (again), please enjoy these tales of snow panic.

• Two James Madison University student have been charged with felony assault for throwing snowballs ("missiles") at a snow plow and undercover police. (Thanks to Snowpanic.com reader JG for the tip.)
  
• A falling chunk of ice dislodged a gas line, causing a leak at a NW Washington school.
  
• A Hyattsville woman joked on Tuesday, "Now would be a really bad time to go into labor." Wednesday, at the height of the blizzard, she did.
  

Snow Crash

To use the term du jour, please, everyone, "shelter in place".  The Washington Post reports a ridiculous number of crashes in Maryland and Virginia today. 

• "A van ran into the back of a snow plow on Route 426 at Interstate 95."
• In Virginia, two men stopped to help another motorist and were hit by a tractor-trailer

Here at Snowpanic.com, we like to make light of the brouhaha, but if panic causes you to stay off the road, good.

Panic Heads South; DC Area Just Mildly Nervous

The Capital Weather Gang, Snowpanic.com's favorite weather blog, predicts about 1-4 inches in DC, but 6-12 in Richmond.