Snow panic is back, and it is spectacular

Will you look at that? A few days ago, the Capital Weather Gang's forecast divided about equally into no storm, medium storm and five-plus inches. That seemed like a pretty big deal. Now, the middle scenario for two of the bigger counties in the D.C. area has shifted to eight to fourteen inches. That is pretty wow.

In the years since this blog's origin, it has been tempting to overhype every little bit of flurries. But that winter of 2009/10 seemed to take the edge off local reaction to the milder storms. But enough time has passed and this one is big enough for this one to truly be a big deal.

In other words, Dr. Snowpanic gives you permission to panic this time.

You Had One Job, Snow Measuring Person

The recent snowstorm landed in DC's top 5 but not its top 3. Or did it? The Washington Post is reporting that the people in charge of measuring the official DC total at National Airport may have botched the job. Great, so what happens now? Do we throw the red challenge flag? Can anyone find it in all this snow? Do we have to do the snowstorm over again? Arrrgh!

Neither rain nor...no, I guess just rain...

The Post Office is calling it quits in the region; planning to try again Monday.

Let's Be Careful Out There

Just a PSA to be careful when shoveling snow, especially for those of us north of 40 years and not in the best of shape. The Washington Post reports the sad story of a 60-year-old man who expired while shoveling this morning. Personally, I am leaning towards just letting it melt.

Fire & Ice

We have been spared the panic-worthy stories for the most part, but they are starting to trickle in.

The Washington Post brings us the picture of some poor sap in Silver Spring who had more than the usual trouble driving in a blizzard.

Name that Storm!

The local NBC 4 Storm Team out of DC predicts that this winter storm will surpass "Snowmaggedon" of February 5 & 6, 2010, the official depth of which they labeled 17.8 inches.

We here at Snowpanic.com fondly remember that storm. The twins were gestating, a newborn Snowpanic website was getting some traction... but the name is used, and a bit tired.

Today's storm is predicted to be 18 to 24 to 30 inches in the DC Metro area. So what shall we call the current winter storm, East Coast 2016?

Top five suggestions will be put up for a vote.

Dr. Snowpanic Gets Results!

I noticed a Washington Post article recapping area laws about shoveling your sidewalk. DC gives you a relatively skimpy 8 (daylight) hours after the snow stops falling. The article said that Prince George's County gives you 24 hours. I know, however, that PG gives you 48 hours. This is important, because there are going to be less than 48 hours between the end of last night's inchpocalypse and the onset of the end-of-times snow we're getting this weekend. I am not throwing my back out clearing an inch of snow that's going to be buried under 3 more feet by the end of the weekend.

So I tweeted at the post (my only regret is not using the official Dr. Snowpanic twitter account). And they corrected it! I mean, they didn't mention in the article that they had corrected it, which seems a bit weird, but hey.

DC gets inch of snow; grinds to a halt

"Lengthy, slow-moving commutes."

Well, thank goodness we never get much more than that.

Closed even if there's no snow!

The University of Maryland announced that it will be closed Friday through Sunday. Even though the Post says that "it’s not out of the question the snow holds off until Friday evening."
I bet the students who are needlessly missing 8am lectures will be upset...on second thought...

Stop Trying to Make Jonas Happen

The Weather Channel got the idea a few year back that winter storms should have names, just like hurricanes. It's not an awful idea, but what is particularly bad about it is that they have appointed themselves name choosers. And they're not good at it. Snowmaggedon is a great name for a storm. "Remember Snowmaggedon?" "Yeah, I was home from school for a week." Jonas is not. "Remember Jonas?" "Yeah, I think I sat next to him in biology class."

Leave this to the pro...the amateurs, I mean

The Washington City Paper has unveiled a "Snow Panic Index", which they are using to track the upcoming...what do we call it...The Snow Awakens?

I guess I should have registered the domain and the trademark.

Unfortunately, they fall into the trap of pegging their index to the extent to which we should panic, whereas Dr. Snowpanic knows that what really matters is the panic that defies all reason.

THREATS TO LIFE & PROPERTY

Also, is it my imagination, or does the outline of the purple area on the map look like Southern France?

January 22 and 23, 2016

That's what I'm talking about.

More Snow Than you can Shovel

The most recent Maryland snow event began this morning just before 8 am. It was several hours late, but just in time for the twins and I to watch it develop over breakfast. Since then, the snow has been falling ceaselessly. At least 4 inches of snow have accumulated at SnowPanic HQ in Bowie, MD as of 4:30pm. It's a dense powdering of tiny flakes -- perfect for skiing, or snow angels.

This late-March snow is likely to be the last of the season in the Mid-Atlantic. At least, so many are  hoping. But snow is so rare that we here at SP HQ focus on thoroughly enjoying it. Since moving here in 1995, I've noticed many more snow emergencies in the last 5 years than in the first 10 I lived here. Since 2010, when SnowPanic was created, we've had snow every winter. Instead of bemoaning it, we bought kids' size snow bibs, sleds, and helmets.

Global cooling? The experts say not, but Mother Earth is long overdue for an Ice Age. Although SnowPanic's official position is that 97 out of 100 climate scientists can't be wrong on the facts of global warming, this increasing frequency and snowfall must make one wonder if 230+ years of polluting the earth (counting from the invention of the coal-burning steam engine) isn't provoking a wintry response from the misunderstood biosphere. No matter what humans can do, Earth can go one better, usually.

And looking at the tiny flakes falling thick as fog outside--coating every fence line, each suburban roof, the remaining brown leaves--I think the frozen scene is better: the clean air is just in time for kite season; the hydrated earth will burst forth in petal-drenched spring, just in time for the Equinox.

For now, it's indoor activities, coloring pages, baking cookies, board games, hot chocolate, crafts, warm winter naps, and the promise of sledding tomorrow.

-- Christina

More Maryland Snow

Ok the last time I made fun of Maryland for delaying schools more snow fell and it was actually dangerous but this time the closing seems a little bit excessive.

#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

Don't Ever Change, Maryland

Some of the grass is obscured by snow! Better cancel school!

Weather Report at SNPC HQ

We are happy to report a real snow at HQ in Bowie MD. It began just before 1pm EST, and it's really coming down, too.

The snow will find a way to kill you

"Howard County officials said Thursday that three county men died after suffering heart attacks while outside their homes during the snowstorm, and that two were shoveling snow when they collapsed."

Horrible, right? Well, what can we do?

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman urged county residents to be careful.
"This is deep, heavy snow, and I implore everyone to take it easy," he said. "Please don't over-exert yourself. Clear a little at a time. Or ask a neighbor to help. We need to pitch in as a community during times like these. If you know of a neighbor who could use assistance, please offer to do a little shoveling.

That seems like useful advice, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. It almost makes me forgive you for the parking ticket we received in Ellicott City after all the "Thanks to Ken Ulman, parking meters are not running" signs. So, if neighbors help neighbors, nobody needs to die, right?

BREAKING: Family of Fairfax County man says he collapsed and died while helping a neighbor clear his driveway of snow Thursday.

Sigh. I would suggest you stay inside and give up on shoveling snow, but you know I'd just end up posting an article about someone dying from slipping on an unshoveled sidewalk.

Bowie Snow Tops 1 foot.

Over the last 36 hours, Snowpanic's Bowie outpost has received over a foot of snow. The Weather Channel estimates we've accumulated 13.4 inches Thursday alone.

More snow is expected Friday night.

It's amazing the variety of snowfall accumulations in the area. Check out local Weather Stations at Weather Underground. Simply input your ZIP code and scroll down to "Weather Stations" to find details from an armchair weatherman near you.