Batten Down the Hatches, Ma

Not to alarm you, gentle readers, but the Snowpocalypse is nigh. The National Weather Service has already issued a winter storm watch for the entire area beginning late tonight and lasting through Wednesday morning. Forecasters aren't certain they want to label it an exclusively snow event, or if we can expect a wintry mix, which, by the way, is our second favorite kind of mix, after margarita. CapitalWeather predicts the fluffy stuff will start falling in the wee hours of the morning and change to sleet and freezing rain as the day goes on. Predictions for total accumulation range from 4 to 6 inches, depending on who you listen to (Al Gore claims that the sea will rise 10 inches and polar bears everywhere will drown; Republican skeptics have called the warnings of snow an international conspiracy to slow the U.S. economy) and where you live.

We'll go out on a limb and say that a forecast as messy as this one will close most area schools on Tuesday and possibly even Wednesday, but as of now no firm decisions have been made. Hopeful kids will just have to check online to see if they get a mid-week hiatus. As for us adults, there's always the chance that you'll get the day off too, as employers consider dangerous road conditions and the ability of even the thought of snow to completely immobilize the city.

For its part Metro boldly proclaims it has mobilized deicing equipment and is prepared to keep operations running throughout severe weather. Not that we don't trust that buses and trains will be running on time during tomorrow's rush hour, it's just that we'd recommend checking online or calling Metro's upgraded customer service line to avoid getting frostbite waiting for a bus that may never come.

Stay tuned to DCist for our complete coverage and stay safe out there, or on second thought, make yourself a nice hot toddy and wait for the chaos to subside.