Photo by kimberlyfaye

Photo by kimberlyfaye

Update: You don’t have to go to work tomorrow, probably!

Original post

This is it, you guys. The snow storm to end all snow storms (except for the other snow storms).

And with a certain snowy doom set to begin this evening, the D.C. government plans to declare a snow emergency at 6:30 p.m. What does that mean, exactly? Well, when a snow emergency for the District of Columbia has been declared, parking along snow emergency routes (mostly main roads) will be restricted to allow for better plowing. Parking along one of the snow emergency routes could mean a hefty ($250) fine along with towing and impoundment fees.

To get ready for tonight’s storm, which could dump as much as 12 inches of snow in D.C., the District Snow Team (a task force established between the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transportation) will be in full deployment by 9 p.m. tonight, with 287 plows on the streets. “If the forecast holds, this will be our first chance this season to tackle a heavy snowfall,” DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr said in a release. “We are ready, our equipment is ready and we have plenty of salt. Of course, if enough snow accumulates, we will plow the streets.”

Right now, the latest forecast predicts about five to ten inches of accumulation in the “immediate metro region,” with a little bit more predicted in places west of the city. Capital Weather Gang says the storm will start between 7 and 10 p.m. tonight, and there’s a high probability it’ll change to sleet and/or freezing rain sometime tomorrow morning.

In addition to the snowy conditions, temperatures are expected to drop into the low 20s and teens. But because of the large amount of snow expected, there will be no warming buses operating for D.C.’s homeless population. But the Metropolitan Police Department says they’re doing “extra outreach” to help bring homeless residents to warm and safe shelters. There will be staff at former warming bus locations to redirect people to different locations. Here are the warming sites:

  • Old D.C. Council Chamber (441 4th Street NW), Co-ed, open at 7 p.m.
  • Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N Street SW), Coed, open at 9 p.m.
  • Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th Street NE), Co-ed, open at 9 p.m.
  • West End Library (24th and L Streets NW), Co-ed, open at 9 p.m.

    If the D.C. government is closed, the sites will remain open 24 hours a day.

    Here’s a map of D.C.’s snow emergency routes, just so you know where to not park.

    Snow Emergency Map

    God speed, everyone, and may The Force be with you.

    • Filed Under: certain doom, snow, snow storm, winter weather,